Insurance policy holder feels cheated

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DUMBFOUNDED: Chong shows reporters the letter he wrote to Chai’s insurance company. With him are Chai and her husband Choo.

KUCHING: For many people, taking up an insurance policy is gaining peace of mind in case something happens to them.

In Chai Chiew Yun’s case, this security blanket was rudely yanked away when she spent most of last year trying to claim RM16,505.15 from her insurance provider for a back surgery.

At the end of her rope, Chai and her husband Choo Khoon Kuet sought help from Bandar Kuching assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen two weeks ago.

Chong said the insurance company nullified the policy and refunded the premium paid on grounds she did not disclose a doctor’s visit in 2006.

“The reason given by the company is that Chai consulted her doctor for hypertension, and this was not disclosed to the insurance company when she signed up,” Chong told reporters yesterday.

It was determined by the doctor in a second visit that Chai was not suffering from hypertension, but just a bad case of the jitters over seeing a doctor. She never took the medication prescribed to her.

Chong said the back surgery had nothing to do with any ailment arising from hypertension.

“The company took advantage of an irrelevant fact and created an excuse to refuse honouring their obligations under the insurance policy. This amounts to exploitation of the client,” he said.

Chong has issued a letter demanding the company honour the policy within 10 days of the date of the letter, of which a copy was also sent to Bank Negara.

He advised the people not to fall prey to the unethical practices of insurance companies. He added this was not the first such case.

On a different subject, Chong challenged Sarawak Energy Berhad to bring power thieves to court.

Referring to a news article published in The Borneo Post on Friday, he said Sesco should not use different instances to justify cases where meters were found faulty.

Chong claimed many people had been served with notices for outstanding arrears, and the amount they had to pay run into tens of thousands of ringgit.

Three recently affected clients disputed this allegation and asked Sesco to charge them in court.

“But Sesco refused. They only issued the letter,” Chong said.

“If there is evidence, take them to court. The victims want this matter to be adjudicated in court.”