A Real-Life Horror Story About Termite Damage: Don’t Let Your Home Be Next

8 to 14 of March 2026 was Termite Awareness Week, but for one local woman in Malaysia, she faced a horrifying termite infestation in 2023. A heartbreaking story went viral: when a woman opened her storage cabinet only to find her life savings, totalling RM30,000 in cash, literally chewed to pieces. What took years of hard work, sweat, and sacrifice to earn was destroyed in silence by termites…

"Help! My Money is Already Damaged by Termites!" – Here is what you can do.

According to Bank Negara Malaysia guidelines, you can actually exchange damaged ringgit at any bank branch. If you ever find yourself with banknotes damaged by termites (fingers crossed you don't!), here is what you can do:

1. Collect the Pieces

Don't throw anything away, even the tiny bits. Do not tape them together.

2. Go to Any Bank

Take the pieces/damage banknotes to any commercial bank near you. Tell them you want to exchange "Damaged Banknotes."

• Minor damage (defaced or markings):  The bank might reimburse on the spot.
• Severe damage (Termite-infested or ink-stained): It is advised to take termite-infested banknotes to a Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) branch near you for an assessment.

3. How much will you get back?

It depends on how much of the paper is left:

• Full Value: If more than two-thirds (2/3) of the note is intact.
• Half Value: If between one-half (1/2) and two-thirds (2/3) is intact.
• No Value: If less than half the note remains.

The information above is sourced from Says.com. For the latest updates, please refer to Bank Negara Malaysia.

Why You Need Professional Termite Control Before It’s Too Late

Unlike money, you can't "exchange" a damaged house at the bank. Once the structural integrity of your home or furniture is compromised, the repair costs often soar into the tens of thousands, far more than the cost of a simple inspection.

Most homeowners only call a pest control expert when they tap on wood and hear hollow sound, mud tubes or other signs of termites. If you’ve already found "trail marks" or damaged items, don't panic, but do act fast.

Termites work 24/7, 365 days a year. They are known as "silent destroyers" because, unlike a leaky pipe or a flickering lightbulb, they don't tell you they’re there until the damage is done.

If termites can chew through a stack of banknotes hidden in a cabinet, imagine what they are doing to the structural beams, door frames, cabinets, and flooring of your home.

Exclusive Rentokil Neighbourhood Offer: Spread the word to protect your community

In residential terraces, condos, and closely built homes, the risk of common pests such as termites, cockroaches or ants is higher due to shared walls, plumbing and underground structures that allow these social pests to move between properties. Single premises pest treatment helps to protect your own property, but when neighbours join forces, the entire neighbourhood stays protected. 

From now until 31 December 2026, with this Rentokil Neighbourhood Programme, you and your neighbours who sign up for General Pest Control (Ants & Cockroaches) or Termite Treatment within the same month can unlock multi-tier rewards:

• Refer 1 Neighbour (total 2 Sign-ups): Both enjoy a 10% Discount
• Refer 2 Neighbours (total 3 Sign-ups): All three enjoy a 15% Discount
• Refer 3 or more Neighbours (total 4 or more Sign-ups): Everyone enjoys a MASSIVE 20% Discount!

Don’t wait until the same incident happens to you. Make sure your home is protected from termites.

A stronger defence starts with you — and your neighbours. Click here to claim your group rewards today!