MAYBANK OPERATIONS IN INDONESIA NOT AFFECTED BY DEMONSTRATIONS, SAYS CEO

By Zakaria Abdul Wahab

SINGAPORE, Sept 3 (Bernama) -- Maybank said Friday its banking operations in
Indonesia have not been affected by the anti-Malaysia demonstrations by some of
the Indonesian protester groups.

"Business is as usual at its 290 branches Indonesia-wide," said Maybank
President and Chief Executive Officer Abdul Wahid Omar here.

On the two demonstrations by Indonesian protesters outside its branches in
Serang and Makasar recently, Abdul Wahid said they were only isolated incidents.

Several groups in Indonesia, such as the vocal Bendera (People's Bastion for
Democracy), are staging an anti-Malaysia campaign following the recent case
of alleged mishandling of Indonesia's marine officials by Malaysian coast guards
in the disputed territorial seas off Johor and Bintan.

Abdul Wahid is here to launch a dedicated Islamic banking hub at the bank's
branch in Geylang Serai, a Malay-Muslim populated area, this evening.

Speaking at a media conference at the Maybank headquarters, Abdul Wahid
said he was in Jakarta last week and regarded the demonstrations as a minimal
threat to the bank branches.

He, however, said the bank would ensure no untoward incidents happen to its
banks and personnel, adding that similar protests had occurred in Jakarta before
following disputes between the two countries over issues such as the Ambalat
seas, the origin of Pendet dance and batik.

Moving forward, Abdul Wahid said Maybank would be opening a new branch each
week in Indonesia, targeting 70 branches a year to reach over 400 by the coming
years.

The bank is also increasing its presence as one of the top Islamic banking
players in Indonesia, converting its existing subsidiary PT Bank Maybank
Indocorp into a Syariah entity, and developing new and innovative
Syariah-compliant products.

Maybank would also leverage on Bank Indonesia Internasional's customers and
delivery channels for its Syariah business, Abdul Wahid said.

He said the bank's Islamic share in Indonesia was targeted to triple from
the current one per cent to two or three per cent by 2015.
-- BERNAMA


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