Friday, August 2, 2013

Sukuk demand still strong, supported by domestic institutional investors

KUALA LUMPUR: Demand for Malaysia’s Islamic bonds and sukuk with longer maturity is expected to remain strong, supported by domestic institutional investors, according to Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz.

Source from (The Star Online): http://www.thestar.com.my/Business/Business-News/2013/08/02/Sukuk-demand-still-strong-Its-supported-by-domestic-institutional-investors.aspx
Published: August 02, 2013

“We have many institutional investors in our domestic system, ranging from those in the insurance industry to pension funds.

“They represent a major source of demand for our (debt) papers,” she told reporters after an event to launch the new iconic brand identity, “Malaysia: World’s Islamic Finance Marketplace”.

Bloomberg recently reported that Malaysia had plans to roll out 20-year syariah-compliant securities next month.

Zeti did not confirm the timing of the issuance of the new securities, which would represent Malaysia’s longest-maturity Islamic debt ever introduced to date, although she did say the issuance would be done “according to plan.”

On the recent sell-off of Malaysian bonds, Zeti said there was no reason to over-react.

“We’ve seen this from time to time,” she said, noting that a significant amount of the country’s debt papers was held by non-resident investors because of the favourable yields.

“Malaysia represents a highly open market and we experience inflows of funds, and sometimes we see reversals,” she explained.

Zeti added that Malaysia could cope with such volatility because its financial market was one of the most developed among emerging economies.

Meanwhile, Zeti said Malaysia had the capacity and capability to address its fiscal vulnerabilities in a gradual and sequenced manner.

“Malaysia still has time to do it; but of course, it is now more urgent because the global environment has become more challenging,” she told reporters.

“The recovery that we had expected from major economies has not strengthened. And, going forward, it is very likely that it would continue to remain modest.

“Therefore, it is important for us to reduce our vulnerabilities, one of which is in the fiscal area,” Zeti explained, adding that Malaysian policymakers were putting emphasis on increasing the country’s resilience and boosting its potential to sustain economic growth.

Pelabur institusi minat sukuk

KUALA LUMPUR 1 Ogos - Pasaran sukuk di negara ini masih mempunyai permintaan yang tinggi dalam kalangan banyak pelabur institusi. Gabenor Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), Tan Sri Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz berkata, sukuk itu sendiri tercipta kerana wujudnya permintaan yang tinggi.

Source from (Utusan Malaysia): http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/Ekonomi/20130802/ek_02/Pelabur-institusi-minat-sukuk
Published: August 02, 2013



Katanya, salah satu contoh permintaan pasaran sukuk yang tinggi adalah dalam kalangan sistem domestik itu sendiri, terutamanya daripada industri insurans, dana pencen sehingga kepada dana-dana pelaburan yang lain.

"Mereka (pelabur) yang berada dalam sistem domestik ini merupakan sumber terbesar permintaan pasaran sukuk pada waktu ini,'' katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas menghadiri majlis pelancaran identiti jenama ikonik baharu 'Malaysia: Pasaran Kewangan Islam Dunia' di sini hari ini.

Tambah Zeti Akhtar, pasaran sukuk pada waktu ini telah dikuasai pelabur asing kerana kadar pulangan yang menggalakkan.

"Pasaran bon dan sukuk telah dibangunkan secukupnya bagi menghadapi sebarang ketidaktentuan yang akan berlaku," ujarnya.

Pasaran sukuk Malaysia dijangka kekal tinggi tahun ini meskipun pasaran global turun naik, terutama di Amerika Syarikat (AS).

Malah, Pasaran sukuk Malaysia bakal menyaksikan pertumbuhan sihat seperti tahun lalu bersandarkan asasnya yang kukuh, infrastruktur yang baik, rangka kerja kawal aturan selain sistem Syariah.

Pelabur telah melihat Malaysia sebagai sebuah pasaran yang baik untuk diteroka.

Foreigners shed Malaysian govt debt in June

KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 1, 2013): Foreigners cut their holdings of Malaysian government bonds to RM137.88 billion in June from RM144.51 billion in May, according to data from Malaysia's central bank.

Source from (The Sun Daily): http://www.thesundaily.my/news/787031
Published: August 02, 2013

Foreign holdings of Bank Negara Malaysia bills and notes fell to RM61.01 billion in June from RM64.7 billion in May.

Foreign holdings of government-issued Islamic bonds, or sukuk, rose to RM2.82 billion in June from RM2.36 billion the previous month while their holdings of private sector debt increased to RM9.99 billion from RM9.90 billion. – Reuters

Malaysia ikon baru pasaran kewangan Islam Dunia

Datuk Seri Najib Razak semalam memperkenalkan pasaran kewangan Islam Malaysia kepada dunia dengan identiti jenama ikon baru, iaitu Malaysia: Pasaran Kewangan Islam Dunia.

Source from (Berita Harian): http://www.bharian.com.my/bharian/articles/MalaysiaikonbarupasarankewanganIslamDunia/Article
Published: August 02, 2013

Malaysia ikon baru pasaran kewangan Islam Dunia
Najib bersalam dengan Dr Zeti selepas melancarkan Malaysia: Pasaran 
Kewangan Islam Dunia di Kuala Lumpur.

Ia menandakan satu lagi pencapaian penting dalam pembangunan industri kewangan Islam di Malaysia.
Berikutan pengenalan ikon baru itu, Perdana Menteri mempelawa komuniti pelabur global untuk datang memanfaatkan sepenuhnya pasaran kewangan Islam Malaysia yang kini dipacu oleh rangka kerja pengawalan yang menyeluruh, penyeliaan, syariah dan undang-undang yang komprehensif.

Beliau berkata, Malaysia mahu lebih banyak transaksi pelbagai mata wang merentas sempadan dibuat di negara ini berikutan rangka kerja kawal selia, syariah dan undang-undang mantap yang menyediakan persekitaran kondusif kepada bakal pengguna kewangan Islam.

Platform kewangan Islam yang luas di Malaysia harus dimanfaatkan peserta sejagat meliputi bidang perbankan, sukuk, ekuiti, takaful, re-takaful, pengurusan kekayaan, pembangunan tenaga mahir dan khidmat bantuan profesional.

Jenama ikon baru

Kini terpulang kepada peserta dan peneraju pasaran untuk membangunkan dan memacu industri ini demi kemajuan pasaran kewangan Islam global, katanya pada pelancaran dan pengenalan jenama ikon baru itu di Kuala Lumpur semalam.

Yang hadir sama ialah Menteri Kewangan Kedua, Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah; Gabenor Bank Negara Malaysia Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz; dan Ketua Setiausaha Negara, Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa.

Najib berkata, Malaysia telah membangunkan Pasaran Kewangan Islam yang komprehensif dan progresif, yang telah berkembang pesat sejak 30 tahun lalu.

Beliau berkata, peserta industri dan peserta pasaran global boleh memanfaatkan inovasi, kepakaran serta aktiviti pelaburan yang aktif daripada pasaran kewangan Islam Malaysia untuk urusan perniagaan dari serata dunia.

Usaha bersepadu

Katanya, tahap kecanggihan pasaran kewangan Islam Malaysia pada masa ini adalah hasil daripada usaha bersepadu Bank Negara dan Suruhanjaya Sekuriti Malaysia, cendekiawan Syariah dan komuniti industri kewangan Islam.

Peneraju pasaran Malaysia juga boleh memanfaatkan rangka kerja pasaran Ma-
laysia yang komprehensif untuk memacu pembangunan industri ini dengan lebih jauh lagi melalui kepemimpinan yang berwawasan, inovasi dan transaksi yang lebih tinggi dalam pelbagai mata wang merentas sempadan untuk urusan perniagaan, katanya.

New Maybank CEO To Be Announced This Month, Says Zeti

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 (Bernama) -- The new chief executive officer (CEO) of Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) to replace Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar will be announced this month, says Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) Governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Abdul Aziz.

Source from (The Star Online): http://www.thestar.com.my/Business/Business-News/2013/08/02/Naming-of-Maybank-CEO-within-a-month-Zeti-Screening-process-for-new-head-honcho-nears-completion.aspx
Published: August 02, 2013

Source from (Business Times): http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/mbb/Article/index_html
Published: August 02, 2013

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/bu/newsbusiness.php?id=967665
Published: August 02, 2013


"There would be approval and screening processes because we want to ensure that the CEO, especially for such a large bank, passes them.

"The agents are doing them and are very nearly being completed so the name will be announced soon," she told reporters after the introduction of a new iconic brand, 'Malaysia's Islamic Finance Marketplace', here today.

She said the candidate has been identified and the new CEO of the largest banking group in Malaysia will be announced this month.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak introduced the new iconic bran.

Also present was Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah.

Meanwhile, Zeti said the government and BNM were addressing concerns raised by Fitch Ratings on Malaysia's public savings and structural budget.

"We will set out to increase our resilience and to better enhance our potentials to sustain our growth," she said.

The rating agency has also revised Malaysia's sovereign credit rating outlook from 'stable' to 'negative' while affirming Malaysia's long-term foreign and local currency at 'A-' and 'A', respectively.

On Najib's announcement that the government will unveil details on policy options to strengthen the country's fiscal and macro positions in the coming budget, Zeti said Malaysia still has the time to do it but it was now more urgent because the global environment has become more challenging.

"It is important for us to reduce our vulnerabilities and one of the areas of course is in fiscal area. Malaysia has the capacity and capability to address it in a gradual and sequenced manner," she said.

Zeti said the recovery that was expected from the major economies has not strengthened and going forward it was likely that it would continue to remain modest.

-- BERNAMA

Short-term rates close stable

Short-term interbank rates closed stable today as Bank Negara Malaysia intervened to absorb excess liquidity from the financial system.

Source from (Business Times): http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20130802095450/Article/index_html
Published: August 02, 2013

The liquidity surplus in the conventional operations fell to RM14.445 billion from RM27.720 billion estimated in the morning, and in the Islamic system, it declined to RM3.456 billion from RM9.668 billion earlier.

Earlier, the bank called for a RM10 billion range-maturity auction programme for three days to 94 days and two repo tenders of RM400 million each for 31 days and 46 days, respectively.

It also called for a RM3.8 billion Al-Wadiah tender for three days to 91 days and a Commodity Murabahah Programme tender of RM500 million for 25 days.

It issued a late conventional tender for RM14.5 billion and a RM3.5 billion Al-Wadiah tender, both for three-day money.

The overnight rate remained at 2.92 per cent while the one-, two- and three-week rates stood at 2.98 per cent, 3.01 per cent and 3.04 per cent, respectively.-- Bernama

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Malaysia's Economy Set To Expand In 2013, 2014 - Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian economy is set to continue to expand in 2013 and 2014 albeit with a slight moderation in growth, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Source from (The Star Online): http://www.thestar.com.my/Business/Business-News/2013/08/01/PM-says-Malaysian-economy-to-grow.aspx
Published: August 01, 2013

Source from (The Sun Daily): http://www.thesundaily.my/news/786257
Published: August 01, 2013

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/bu/newsbusiness.php?id=967616
Published: August 01, 2013



He said domestic demand will continue to anchor growth amid the continued moderation in external demand, with the growth to be mainly driven by the private sector and supported by the public sector.

"There are however risks to growth, especially from the external environment," he said in a press conference after attending Bank Negara Malaysia's (BNM) board briefing here Thursday.

Najib said global growth is expected to continue to remain modest as growth in the major advanced economies will still be affected by the ongoing structural adjustments and policy uncertainty.

He said Malaysia could face increased volatility in the financial markets as these major economies are calibrating their policies.

"Given this challenging environment, BNM has put forward a number of proposals to strengthen our economic resilience and to accelerate our economic transformation agenda to become a high value-added and high-income economy," he said.

In addition, Najib said the government is committed to strengthening the country's macro and fiscal position.

"We have put in place a fiscal committee, we are looking at some challenges and all these will be addressed shortly, particularly in the forthcoming budget," he said.

-- BERNAMA

Ekonomi Malaysia Berkembang Pada 2013 Dan 2014, Kata Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, 1 Ogos (Bernama) -- Ekonomi Malaysia diunjur terus berkembang pada 2013 dan 2014 meskipun pertumbuhan menyederhana sedikit, kata Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak.

Source from (Harian Metro): http://www.hmetro.com.my/myMetro/articles/Terusberkembang/Article/index_html
Published: August 02, 2013

Source from (Berita Harian): http://www.bharian.com.my/bharian/articles/EkonomiMalaysiaberkembangpada2013_2014-PM/Article
Published: August 01, 2013

Source from (Sinar Online): http://www.sinarharian.com.my/bisnes/pm-ekonomi-negara-berkembang-1.189205
Published: August 02, 2013

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/bm/bu/newsbusiness.php?id=967634
Published: August 02, 2013

FotoPM: Ekonomi negara berkembang

Beliau berkata permintaan domestik akan terus menjadi tunjang pertumbuhan walaupun permintaan luaran terus menyederhana, dengan pertumbuhan sebahagian besarnya dipacu oleh sektor swasta dan disokong oleh sektor awam.

"Bagaimanapun wujud risiko untuk pertumbuhan, terutama persekitaran luar," kata Najib pada sidang media selepas menghadiri taklimat lembaga pengarah Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) di sini Khamis.

Najib berkata pertumbuhan dunia dijangka kekal sederhana memandangkan pertumbuhan di ekonomi maju utama masih terjejas oleh pelarasan struktur berterusan dan ketidaktentuan dasar.

Beliau berkata Malaysia akan berhadapan turun naik pasaran kewangan memandangkan ekonomi utama terbabit masih menentu ukur dasar masing-masing.

"Berdasarkan persekitaran yang mencabar ini, BNM menetapkan beberapa cadangan untuk mengukuhkan daya tahan ekonomi dan meningkatkan agenda transformasi ekonomi untuk menjadi negara berpendapatan tinggi dan bernilai Tambah tinggi," katanya.

Selain itu Najib berkata kerajaan komited untuk mengukuhkan makro dan kedudukan fiskal negara.

"Kita sudah mewujudkan jawatan kuasa fiskal kita sedang mengenal pasti beberapa cabaran dan kesemua ini akan ditangani tidak lama lagi, terutama dalam belanjawan akan datang," kata Najib.

-- BERNAMA

Broad Money Growth Stood At 8.5 Per Cent In June, Says BNM

KUALA LUMPUR, July 31 (Bernama) -- The annual growth in broad money (M3) moderated to 8.5 per cent in June 2013, said Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/bu/newsbusiness.php?id=967486
Published: August 01, 2013

The central bank said on a year-on-year basis, the slower expansion in M3 was driven by a more modest expansion in credit extended by the banking system to the private sector and a more moderate increase in net foreign assets, due in part to net portfolio outflows during the month.

"Net financing to the private sector grew at a slower pace of 9.1 per cent in June due to a moderation in the growth of both net issuances of private debt securities (PDS) and outstanding loans of the banking system," it said in a statement Wednesday.

BNM said the growth of business loans outstanding remained stable during the month with loans extended mainly to the finance, insurance and business services; education, health and others; agriculture and transportation, storage and communication sectors.

Loans outstanding to households, however, grew at a more moderate pace.

"The overall loan demand remained strong with sustained loan applications from both the business and household sectors," it said.

On the banking system, BNM said it remained well-capitalised under the Basel III Capital Adequacy Framework with the Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Ratio, Tier 1 Capital Ratio and Total Capital Ratio at 11.7 per cent, 12.6 per cent and 13.8 per cent, respectively.

"The level of net impaired loans improved at 1.3 per cent of net loans, while the loan loss coverage remained at above 90 per cent," it said.

BNM said in June the ringgit depreciated against the currencies of Malaysia's major trading partners.

"The ringgit, together with other regional currencies, depreciated during the month, as news of the possibility of the tapering of monetary accommodation in the US and concerns over China's growth trajectory led to a withdrawal of funds from regional financial markets," it added.

In July, the ringgit continued to depreciate further against the currencies of Malaysia's major trading partners, with the exception of the Japanese yen, against which the ringgit appreciated, said BNM.

The international reserves of Bank Negara Malaysia stood at RM438.7 billion (equivalent to US$137.9 billion) as at July 15, 2013, sufficient to finance 9.6 months of retained imports and are 4.3 times the short-term external debt.

It said headline inflation, as measured by the annual percentage change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was stable at 1.8 per cent in June 2013 (May: 1.8 per cent).

-- BERNAMA 

CEO Baharu Maybank Akan Diumumkan Bulan Ini, Kata Zeti

KUALA LUMPUR, 1 Ogos (Bernama) -- Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif (CEO) baharu Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) bagi menggantikan Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar, akan diumumkan bulan ini, kata Gabenor Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Abdul Aziz.

Source from (Harian Metro): http://www.hmetro.com.my/myMetro/articles/BakalumumpenggantiAbdulWahid/Article/index_html
Published: August 02, 2013

Source from (Berita Harian): http://www.bharian.com.my/bharian/articles/CEObaruMaybankakandiumumkanbulanini_kataZeti/Article/?bh
Published: August 01, 2013

Source from (Utusan Malaysia): http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/Korporat/20130802/ko_01/Calon-CEO-Maybank-dikenal-pasti
Published: August 02, 2013

Source from (Utusan Malaysia): http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/Ekonomi/20130801/ek_09/CEO-baharu-Maybank-diumum-bulan-ini---Zeti
Published: August 01, 2013

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/bm/ge/newsgeneral.php?id=967685
Published: August 02, 2013



Kiri Mohd. Rafique Merican, Tengku Zafrul, Khairussaleh Ramli

"Proses kelulusan dan penelitian akan dilakukan memandangkan kami mahu memastikan CEO, terutama membabitkan sebuah bank yang besar ini, lulus.

"Ejen-ejen sedang melakukannya dan kini semakin hampir selesai supaya namanya diumumkan tidak lama lagi," katanya kepada pemberita selepas pengenalan jenama ikon baharu Pasaran Kewangan Islam Malaysia, di ibu negara, Khamis oleh Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Hadir sama Menteri Kewangan Kedua Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah.

Zeti berkata calon sudah dikenal pasti dan CEO baharu kumpulan perbankan terbesar di Malaysia itu akan diumumkan bulan ini.

Dalam pada itu, Zeti berkata kerajaan dan BNM sedang menangani kebimbangan yang ditimbulkan oleh Fitch Ratings terhadap tabungan awam dan struktur belanjawan.

"Kami akan meningkatkan daya tahan dan memperkukuh potensi yang ada bagi mengekalkan pertumbuhan," katanya.

Agensi penarafan itu juga menyemak unjuran penarafan kredit negara Malaysia daripada 'stabil' kepada 'negatif' dan pada masa yang sama mengesahkan kedudukan mata wang asing dan mata wang tempatan jangka panjang Malaysia masing-masing pada 'A-' dan 'A'.

Mengenai pengumuman Perdana Menteri bahawa kerajaan akan mengumumkan butiran mengenai opsyen dalam mengukuhkan kedudukan fiskal dan makro negara dalam belanjawan akan datang, Zeti berkata Malaysia masih mempunyai masa untuk berbuat demikian, namun kini menjadi bertambah penting memandangkan persekitaran global semakin mencabar.

"Kita perlu mengurangkan pendedahan dan antaranya ialah bidang fiskal. Malaysia mempunyai kapasiti dan keupayaan untuk menanganinya secara berperingkat-peringkat dan mengikut turutan," katanya.

Zeti berkata pemulihan yang dijangkakan daripada ekonomi maju tidak mengukuh, dan untuk masa depan ia terus kekal menyederhana.

--BERNAMA

Kadar jangka pendek ditutup stabil, campur tangan BNM

KUALA LUMPUR 1 Ogos - Kadar-kadar antara bank jangka pendek ditutup stabil hari ini berikutan campur tangan Bank Negara Malaysia bagi menyerap lebihan mudah tunai dalam sistem kewangan.

Source from (Utusan Malaysia): http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/Ekonomi/20130801/ek_10/Kadar-jangka-pendek-ditutup-stabil-campur-tangan-BNM
Published: August 01, 2013

Hasilnya, lebihan mudah tunai dalam operasi konvensional berkurangan kepada RM17.595 bilion berbanding RM37.897 bilion anggaran pada sebelah pagi, dan dalam sistem Islam, ia susut kepada RM3.390 bilion berbanding RM10.584 bilion sebelumnya.

BNM sebelum itu melaksanakan program lelongan matang RM10 bilion untuk satu hari hingga 92 hari dan dua tender repo, masing-masing sebanyak RM300 juta, untuk 32 hari hingga 92 hari.

Ia juga melaksanakan tender Al-Wadiah membabitkan RM5.7 bilion untuk empat hingga 92 hari.

Ia juga melaksanakan satu tender konvensional lewat sebanyak RM17.6 bilion dan tender Al-Wadiah RM3.4 bilion, kedua-duanya untuk wang satu hari.

Kadar semalaman kekal pada 2.92 peratus manakala kadar-kadar satu, dua dan tiga minggu masing-masing pada 2.98 peratus, 3.01 peratus dan 3.04 peratus. - BERNAMA

Rizab antarabangsa BNM RM442 bilion

KUALA LUMPUR 31 Julai - Rizab antarabangsa Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) pada akhir Jun 2013 adalah berjumlah RM442 bilion (AS$136,092.8 juta), manakala aset mata wang asing lain berjumlah RM28.7 bilion (AS$8,818.5 juta)

Source from (Utusan Malaysia): http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/Ekonomi/20130731/ek_14/Rizab-antarabangsa-BNM-RM442-bilion
Published: August 01, 2013

BNM dalam kenyataannya berkata, bagi tempoh 12 bulan akan datang, aliran keluar jangka pendek bagi pinjaman dalam mata wang asing diunjurkan sebanyak RM1.12 bilion (AS$344.5 juta) disebabkan oleh pembayaran balik berjadual peminjaman luar negeri oleh Kerajaan.

"Sejajar dengan amalan yang diterima pakai sejak bulan April 2006, data ini tidak termasuk anggaran aliran masuk mata wang asing daripada pendapatan faedah dan pengeluaran pinjaman projek sebanyak RM13.3 bilion (AS$4,107.5 juta) bagi tempoh 12 bulan akan datang.

"Jumlah kedudukan hadapan panjang ialah sebanyak RM19.3 bilion (AS$5,940.0 juta) pada akhir bulan Jun 2013," katanya. - UTUSAN ONLINE

PM: Government Looking At Policy Options To Strengthen Fiscal, Macro Position

Putrajaya will unveil policies in Budget 2014 to strengthen the country's fiscal and macro position, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak (pic) said today, two days after Fitch Ratings downgraded Malaysia's creditl outlook to negative.

Source from (The Star Online): http://www.thestar.com.my/Business/Business-News/2013/08/01/najib-fiscal.aspx
Published: August 01, 2013

Source from (The Star Online): http://www.thestar.com.my/Business/Business-News/2013/08/01/PM-Govt-committed-to-strengthen-fiscal-position.aspx
Published: August 01, 2013

Source from (The Sun Daily): http://www.thesundaily.my/news/786218
Published: August 02, 2013

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/bu/newsbusiness.php?id=967609
Published: August 02, 2013

Source from (The Malaysian Insider): http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/business/article/najib-budget-2014-to-strengthen-fiscal-macro-position
Published: August 02, 2013


"We do understand that there is a need for us to strengthen it," he said in a press conference on the introduction of a new iconic brand, 'Malaysia's Islamic Finance Marketplace', here Thursday.

The Prime Minister said this in response to Fitch Ratings' concern on Malaysia's public savings and structural budgetary reform that require reforms to stabilise the credit outlook.

The rating agency has revised Malaysia's sovereign credit rating outlook from stable to negative while affirming Malaysia's long-term foreign and local currency at 'A-' and 'A', respectively.

Najib said the affirmation on the country's long-term foreign and local currency is something positive, while the revision depends on the move that the government makes.

"I think it is good for us because it signals their concern -- it is a concern that we share as a government, and we will seek to address those concerns.

"The actual details will be unveiled shortly particularly in the forthcoming budget, so this is not too long," he said.

Earlier, Najib invited the global financial community to come and capitalise on Malaysia's Islamic finance marketplace and expressed hope for more cross-border multi-currency transactions.

He said the task now lies with the players and drivers of the marketplace to build and drive the industry and increase connectivity for the advancement of the global Islamic finance market.

"Malaysia has created a comprehensive and progressive Islamic Finance Marketplace that has grown from strength to strength for over 30 years.

"This level of sophistication in Malaysia's Islamic Finance Marketplace that is open to the world is a culmination of the concerted efforts of our Islamic financial industry community," he said.

Najib said the existence of a robust regulatory, supervisory, Shariah and legal framework in Malaysia offers a highly conducive environment for potential users of Islamic finance.

He said expertise, innovative products and deal-flows are to be found in the Malaysia Islamic Finance Marketplace .

"A wealth of Islamic finance platforms are available to the world to utilise: in banking, sukuk, equities, takaful, re-takaful, wealth management, talent development and professional ancillary services," he said.

-- BERNAMA

Pengukuhan makro, fiskal diumum dalam Bajet 2014

Kuala Lumpur: Kerajaan akan mengumumkan dasar baru bagi mengukuhkan kedudukan fiskal dan makro ekonomi negara pada Bajet 2014.

Source from (Berita Harian): http://www.bharian.com.my/bharian/articles/Dasarbarukukuhfiskaldalambajet/Article
Published: August 02, 2013

Source from (Utusan Malaysia): http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/Ekonomi/20130801/ek_08/Pengukuhan-makro-fiskal-diumum-dalam-Bajet-2014
Published: August 01, 2013

Dasar baru kukuh fiskal  dalam bajet
Najib bersama Zeti dan Menteri Kewangan II, Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni 
Mohamad Hanadzlah memperkenalkan jenama ikon baru Pasaran Kewangan 
Islam Malaysia di Kuala Lumpur.

Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, berkata kerajaan komited untuk memperbaiki kedudukan defisit fiskal negara dan sedang mengenal pasti beberapa pilihan dasar khusus bagi tujuan itu.

Kerajaan memahami bahawa wujudnya keperluan untuk mengukuhkan defisit fiskal dan makro (ekonomi) negara.


Justeru, kita sedang melihat beberapa pilihan dasar dan akan mengumumkannya pada pembentangan Bajet 2014 nanti, katanya pada sidang media selepas memperkenalkan jenama ikon baru Pasaran Kewangan Islam Malaysia di sini, semalam.

Najib yang juga Menteri Kewangan berkata demikian selepas diminta mengulas mengenai penarafan terbaru Fitch Ratings yang menyuarakan kebimbangan terhadap profil kredit negara.

Agensi penarafan global yang berpangkalan di New York, Amerika Syarikat, pada Selasa lalu menyemak semula unjurannya terhadap penarafan kredit jangka panjang Malaysia daripada stabil kepada negatif atas alasan prospek pelaksanaan pembaharuan bajet negara kelihatan agak suram.

Fitch Rating turut menekankan keperluan kerajaan menangani kewangan awam yang lemah bagi menstabilkan kembali unjuran kreditnya.

Ekonomi terus berkembang

Mengulas lanjut, Najib berkata, kerajaan turut berkongsi kebimbangan yang diutarakan agensi itu.

Saya menganggapnya baik untuk kita kerana ia memperlihatkan mereka (Fitch Rating) bimbang dan kerajaan akan berusaha menanganinya.

Butiran mengenai langkah itu akan diumumkan pada bajet akan datang, katanya.
Najib memberi jaminan ekonomi negara diunjur berkembang tahun ini dan tahun depan walaupun pertumbuhannya sederhana dengan didorong sektor swasta yang disokong oleh sektor awam.

Perdana Menteri berkata, permintaan dalam negeri akan terus memacu pertumbuhan ketika permintaan luar negeri sederhana tetapi masih wujud risiko untuk pertumbuhan, terutama daripada persekitaran luar.

Pertumbuhan global dijangka mencatat pertumbuhan sederhana berikutan pertumbuhan dalam ekonomi maju masih terjejas oleh penyelarasan struktur yang berterusan dan ketidakpastian dasar.

Dengan penyelarasan dasar yang dilaksanakan ekonomi utama ini, negara mungkin menghadapi ketidaktentuan yang meningkat dalam pasaran kewangan.

Usaha tangani fiskal

Sementara itu, Gabenor Bank Negara Malaysia, Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz, berkata ekonomi negara mempunyai keupayaan dan kebolehan tersendiri untuk menangani kedudukan fiskal defisit semasa negara.

Kita sedang berusaha menangani semua isu berkenaan. Kita akan mengukuhkan lagi daya tahan serta meningkatkan potensi pertumbuhan, katanya.

Mengenai butiran dasar bakal diumumkan kerajaan dalam bajet akan datang, Zeti berkata, Malaysia masih ada masa berbuat demikian.

Ia (dasar baru bagi mengukuhkan kedudukan defisit fiskal) kini menjadi semakin penting memandangkan persekitaran global semakin mencabar, katanya sambil menambah pemulihan yang dijangkakan daripada ekonomi maju tidak mengukuh dan untuk masa depan ia terus kekal sederhana.

Namun, Zeti berkata, permintaan domestik yang disokong pengembangan berterusan dalam kegiatan sektor swasta serta perbelanjaan sektor awam, dijangka terus kukuh dan menjadi pendorong utama kepada pertumbuhan ekonomi negara bagi tahun ini.