Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) is a reputable financial institution and the Special Task Force (STF) formed to investigate the foreign exchange losses incurred in the 1980s and 1990s is not, in any way, to undermine it, but only to bring closure to the issue.
"I must say BNM is a very good institution not only in Malaysia but it is respected internationally and there is something that is very positive for us.
"It's not the intention of the task force to undermine that. In fact, we are proud about that (Bank Negara Malaysia's achievement)," said former chief secretary Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan in an interview with selective media on Friday.
He was asked to comment on Former BNM Governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz's remark on the issue recently that the central bank has since put in place the necessary measures to ensure the 1980s and 1990s incident would never repeat.
Zeti took over as Central Bank Governor in 2000. In 2009, Global Finance Magazine named her as one of the world's best central bank Chief. She retired last year.
Sidek said the STF comprised members of the society, for example, Chairman of the Securities Commission, Tan Sri Ranjit Ajit Singh.
"We would not do anything that would undermine such an important institution like the central bank," he added.
On Jan 26, former central bank governor Datuk Abdul Murad Khalid revealed that BNM suffered US$10 billion in foreign exchange market losses in the early 1990s, much higher than the RM9 billion disclosed by BNM.
This prompted the establishment of a seven-member STF in February, helmed by Sidek.
The preliminary findings of the STF showed that the actual losses were greater than what was reported to the Cabinet and Parliament at the time.
It has found that a prima facie case existed to merit in-depth investigations by forming a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI), which the government has agreed to.
Asked on the need to investigate on something that happened about two decades ago, Sidek said although it occured a long time ago, the actual losses were only recently disclosed.
"I am of the opinion that the public ought to be given an explanation on the matter and the government has decided that investigations must be carried out.
"As such, the RCI is the only way out to get to the bottom of the matter.
"If we don't carry out investigations now, it will continue to be raised from time to time. In future, five or ten years down the line, the issue will resurface and be raised again," said Sidek, adding that a full investigation (through RCI) could bring closure to this episode.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Sat Jun 24 2017
MOHD SIDEK: It's not the intention of the task force to undermine that. In fact, we are proud about that (Bank Negara Malaysia's achievement). -Filepix
AWANI Ringkas: Polis sahkan Chegu Bard direman dua hari
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
AWANI 7:45 [28/04/2024] – Malaysia tumpu pelaburan baharu | Pertumbuhan saksama dan inklusif | Kajian pertubuhan buruh antarabangsa | Tabung Haji teruskan bantuan
Laporan berita padat dan ringkas #AWANI745 bersama Dzulfitri Yusof
Tumpuan #AWANI745 malam ini:
- Malaysia hadapi cabaran baharu dari negara maju, bidang teknologi, tegas PM
- Ekonomi dunia kian tidak seimbang, Tengku Zafrul di pentas forum desak negara maju lebih adil dan saksama
- 70 peratus pekerja dunia terdedah kepada penyakit akibat perubahan iklim
- Tabung Haji tanggung kos lebih RM350 juta tahun ini
Tumpuan #AWANI745 malam ini:
- Malaysia hadapi cabaran baharu dari negara maju, bidang teknologi, tegas PM
- Ekonomi dunia kian tidak seimbang, Tengku Zafrul di pentas forum desak negara maju lebih adil dan saksama
- 70 peratus pekerja dunia terdedah kepada penyakit akibat perubahan iklim
- Tabung Haji tanggung kos lebih RM350 juta tahun ini
Liek Hou rangkul dua lagi emas di Sepanyol
Jaguh badminton para negara Cheah Liek Hou terus cemerlang apabila menggondol dua pingat emas pada Kejohanan Badminton Para Sepanyol Antarabangsa II 2024 pada Sabtu.
Negara maju harus tundukkan 'ego' dan bekerjasama dengan ASEAN - Penganalisis
Menurut Faisal, ini kerana negara membangun di ASEAN sedang mencorak ekonomi ke arah lebih mampan yang perlu dimanfaatkan negara maju
Rakyat Malaysia di Jordan jadi duta produk PMKS negara - Ewon
Datuk Ewon Benedick menyarankan rakyat Malaysia yang menetap di Jordan supaya memainkan peranan sebagai "duta" untuk mempromosikan produk PMKS dan koperasi negara.
Fokus Minggu Depan: Solidariti Gaza Merentasi Bangsa dan Agama
Break The Siege: Fokus Minggu Depan membincangkan topik Solidariti Gaza Merentasi Bangsa dan Agama susulan penangguhan misi penghantaran bantuan ke Gaza anjuran Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC).
Lelaki rugi lebih RM13,000 terperdaya tawaran kerja dalam talian
Seorang lelaki berputih mata apabila wangnya berjumlah RM13,460 lesap setelah menjadi mangsa penipuan tawaran kerja.
Misi ditangguh, delegasi Malaysia berlepas pulang
Delegasi Malaysia dalam misi Break The Siege Freedom Flotilla To Gaza akan berlepas pulang malam ini.
Keputusan dicapai selepas Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) tidak dapat meneruskan misi selepas Republik Guinea-Bissau menarik balik kebenaran menggunakan bendera untuk dua kapal yang digunakan.
Laporan lanjut bersama Syaff Shukri di Istanbul.
Keputusan dicapai selepas Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) tidak dapat meneruskan misi selepas Republik Guinea-Bissau menarik balik kebenaran menggunakan bendera untuk dua kapal yang digunakan.
Laporan lanjut bersama Syaff Shukri di Istanbul.
Ustaz Wan sanggup bina tempat main boling DIY di sekolah kampung
Ustaz Wan mempunyai minat yang sangat tinggi terhadap sukan boling dan berhasrat untuk turut mengasah bakat anak muridnya.
Karnival Malaysia di New Delhi tarik 2,000 pengunjung
Pengunjung diraikan dengan persembahan kebudayaan, makanan, demonstrasi masakan, mencanting batik dan peluang merasai buah-buahan tropika Malaysia.
UMNO, BN jelajah seluruh negara jelas kerugian tukaran wang asing Bank Negara
BN memulakan program jelajah ke seluruh negara untuk memberi penerangan mengenai pasukan petugas khas jalankan siasatan awal berkenaan kerugian urus niaga mata wang asing oleh Bank Negara.
Kemajuan lebih kukuh dicapai sejak kerugian Forex 25 tahun lepas - Bank Negara
Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) berkata institusi itu sudah mencapai kemajuan yang lebih kukuh, telus dan lebih bertanggungjawab sejak kerugian tukaran asing berlaku hampir 25 tahun lepas.
Bank Negara nafi pegawai bocor maklumat kepada WSJ
Bank Negara Malaysia berkata dakwaan Raja Petra Kamaruddin adalah tidak berasas dan BNM telah membuat laporan polis berhubung perkara itu.