BNM Museum and Art Gallery launches exhibition on Central Banking

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 13  -- Bank Negara Malaysia Museum and Art Gallery  (BNM MAG)  has launched a new exhibition, ‘For the Nation: 60 Years of Central Banking’ in conjunction with its 60th anniversary at Sasana Kijang, here Thursday.

The exhibition will be held from Dec 16, 2019, to June 30, 2020, said BNM MAG in a statement.

The exhibition was launched by Duli Yang Maha Mulia Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus, Tuanku Muhriz ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir, the grandson of Tuanku Abdul Rahman ibni Almarhum Tuanku Muhammad, the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia.

Speaking at the launching event, BNM Governor Datuk Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus said the exhibition illustrates the retrospective narrative in the context of BNM’s growth of the Malaysian economy.

On the role of the central bank, she reiterated that “The Central Banking Act provides a clear mandate for Bank Negara Malaysia to promote monetary stability and financial stability conducive to the sustainable growth of the Malaysian economy.”

“In order to carry out this trust, the role of Bank Negara Malaysia as an independent and professional central bank as stated in the Act is essential to ensure that the mandate given is effectively fulfilled and enables Bank Negara Malaysia to focus on the long-term economic and financial perspective,” said Nor Shamsiah.

The narration of the exhibition begins with the story of the establishment of Bank Negara Tanah Melayu by a small group of 67 employees within a small office space; moving on to Bank Negara Malaysia replacing the Currency Board as the only Malaysian currency issuer in 1967. 

This follows the empowerment of local banking supervision up to the era of fintech innovation and further discussions on the future of digital banking, including financial advisory and services initiatives.

The exhibition also presents recollections of the important economic and financial moments of Malaysia during the Deposit Taking Crisis 1985, the Asian Financial Crisis 1998 and how the government together with BNM planned its own unconventional economic recovery efforts.

Members of the public visiting the exhibitions will have the privilege to view more than 100 exhibits from 80 years ago up to recent years, including previously unseen artefacts, nostalgic films and photos.

-- BERNAMA