KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 — Datuk Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus is a very good choice to be the new Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) governor and her appointment will inspire market confidence, Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz said today.
The former BNM governor said Nor Shamsiah’s appointment also reflects the federal government’s respect for the central bank as a public institution.
“Datuk Shamsiah was a former deputy governor while I was in office and she knows all about central banking she will hit the ground running.
“By appointing her, the government has demonstrated its respect for the institution and I think this is what the market wants to see, an institution that remains independent in performing its function,” Zeti told reporters after attending a meeting with the Council of Eminent Persons at Ilham Tower here.
When asked if she had proposed Nor Shamsiah for the role, Zeti declined to say.
Nor Shamsiah had assisted with the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) investigation while Zeti had still been governor.
However, Zeti said the appointment was not related to Nor Shamsiah’s involvement with the investigation, but rather a reflection of the latter’s ability to serve in the position.
“She now took on a position at the IMF because of her qualification and she is recognised internationally in her area of specialisation, which is on financial stability,” said Zeti, referring to the International Monetary Fund.
Nor Shamsiah, who was appointed as deputy governor in 2010 and re-appointed in 2013, left the central bank in November 2016 when her term ended.
She first joined Bank Negara in 1987 after graduating from Australia.
Earlier, a spokesman from the Prime Minister’s Office announced the appointment of the new governor, following the resignation of Tan Sri Muhammad Ibrahim earlier this month.
Muhammad served under half of his five-year term.
The Finance Ministry is expected to issue a statement on the new appointment later today.
