KUALA LUMPUR: As of October 2024, the government is holding some RM12bil of unclaimed monies, says Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.
In his winding-up speech on the Supply Bill 2025 on Wednesday (Nov 13), Amir Hamzah said that RM17bil of unclaimed money had been received as of Oct 31.
“A total of RM4.2bil has been paid to the claimants, leaving a balance of RM12.8bil in unclaimed money," he added.
He added that the Accountant-General’s Department had conducted booths nationwide to encourage the public to claim their money.
“We will continue to open booths to create awareness,” he said.
He said the Accountant-General’s Department had held more than 100 briefings.
Amir Hamzah added that the government would look into Datuk Seri Sh Mohmed Puzi Sh Ali’s (BN-Pekan) proposal to use data from the National Registration Department to trace deceased claimants' next-of-kin of to disburse the money to.
The amendments to the Unclaimed Moneys Act 1965 allow the government to consider unclaimed money as revenue after 10 years.
Unclaimed money previously held by companies and lodged with the Registrar was to be credited into the Consolidated Trust Account.
