The Association Of Banks In Malaysia Hosts First Of A Planned Series Of Dialogues On The Financial Industry

Kuala Lumpur, March 13, 2009 – The Association of Banks in Malaysia (ABM) held the first of a planned series of dialogues entitled “The 2009 Economic Barometer - Why do we say the Malaysian financial industry is liquid?” at its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

Attendees include representatives from the Small and Medium Industries (SMI) Association Malaysia, Associated Chinese Chamber of Commerce Industry Malaysia (ACCIM), Persatuan Pasaran Kewangan, as well as the media.

Participating speakers were Malaysian Institute of Economic Research Senior Research Fellow, Dr KK Foong, RAM Holdings Berhad Group Chief Economist, Dr Yeah Kim Leng and Standard Chartered Bank Regional Head of Research (Southeast Asia), Mr Tai Cheung Hui. ABM Chairman, Dato’ Abdul Hamidy Hafiz chaired the session.

Dr Foong has acted as a consultant to the Asian Development Bank Institute in Tokyo, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia in Jakarta, and the Japan External Trade Organisation in Bangkok on various occasions and previously worked at Bank Negara Malaysia and RHB Bank.
Mr Yeah is no stranger to the local business circles, often quoted in the financial media on subjects ranging from economic outlook to the bond market. He has wide experience in economic consultancy and research projects spanning both public and private sectors including regional and national economic studies.

Mr Tai who is based in Singapore, is in charge of Standard Chartered Bank’s economic research team in the region, specializing in the financial and economic development of southeast Asian economies. He is also the honorary economist at the Hong Kong British Chamber of Commerce.

ABM’s Executive Director, Ms Chuah Mei Lin, said the Association is delighted and honoured to play host to an eminent list of speakers, experts in their fields, who have taken time off their busy schedules to educate and engage with invited guests on a topic of great relevance and interest to Malaysians.

She added that today’s dialogue helped shed some light to key stakeholders such as industry players, manufacturers and the media on the nature of liquidity in the financial system. In the presentations and interactive session which followed, the speakers clearly explained why the Malaysian financial landscape, underpinned by a healthy external position and high savings rate, is robust as well as possible scenarios moving forward.

On the role of ABM in light of increasing public anxiety on the economy, Ms Chuah said: “ABM will continue to actively engage in discussions with business associations, chambers of commerce and members of the public to increase awareness on access to and management of financial products and services particularly in this challenging period.”

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