Malaysia bank analyst suspended after forecasting opposition win

Azrul Azwar Ahmad Tajudin said “political pressure” on his employers at Bank Islam was likely the spark for his immediate suspension by the bank for an “alleged serious act of misconduct.”

“I'm shocked. Clearly, I'm a political victim,” Azrul, who has been a member of the opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat for more than a decade, told AFP.

Malaysians must vote by June this year in what analysts expect to be the stiffest challenge yet to the Barisan Nasional coalition that has ruled the Southeast Asian country since independence from Britain in 1957.

Azrul spoke last Thursday at a business forum in neighboring Singapore on the possible outcome of this year's polls.

“It's a fair analysis. I didn't do anything wrong. The outcome of (the election) may have an impact on the economy, so why shouldn't I analyze it? I was doing my job,” he said.

He said the letter set out no timeframe for the length of the suspension or gave other details.

A Singaporean newspaper and independent Malaysian news portal picked up his comments.

Bank Islam has distanced itself from Azrul's comment. It said an investigation of the alleged infraction would be conducted.

Azrul, however, has said he may resign.

Bank Islam is owned by Tabung Haji, a government-linked fund that facilitates pilgrimages to Mecca for Muslims, who make up 60 percent of Malaysia's 29 million people.

SHARE CLOSE
Blogger		Google+
Live Journal		Plurk
Stumble Upon

Tweet

	PREVIOUS ARTICLE
	China to survey disputed E. China Sea islands: Xinhua

NEXT ARTICLE
Cambodia pedophile term slammed as lenient

Write a Comment

Terms

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

 Receive China Post promos
 Respond to this email

Submit