KUALA LUMPUR, April 9 – The stability of Malaysia’s banking sector has contributed to the country’s strong economic fundamentals, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said. Speaking at the 140th anniversary celebration dinner of Standard Chartered Malaysia here tonight, Najib said this stability was recognised by bodies such as the World Economic Forum, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
“All of them have issued reports showing Malaysia near the top of their rankings for competitiveness and ease of doing business. “In order to achieve our goal of reaching developed nation status by 2020, we must not only maintain our momentum but build on it. He added that 92 per cent of Malaysians have deposit accounts, and Malaysia has been in the top rank in the ‘Getting Credit’ category by the World Bank for six years in a row.
Present at the event were Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia chairman Tan Sri Datuk Mohd Sheriff Mohd Kassim, managing director and chief executive officer Mahendra Gursahani, the bank’s board of directors, group and regional senior management and some 300 clients and guests. Standard Chartered is the first bank in Malaysia , which set up its first branch in 1875 on Beach Street, Penang.
