Governor, Central Bank Akhtar Aziz Zeti of Malaysia

Ng Zeti said this in her speech at the Banking Industry Seminar - Enhancing SMEs' Awareness on Access to Financing in Kuala Lumpur.

Zeti said this stronger growth has been achieved despite the more challenging external environment and increased uncertainties in the international financial markets.

Zeti was appointed the Bank's Chief Economist and the Head of its Economics Department.

Of an illustrious lineage, Zeti is the only child of Royal Professor Ungku Aziz Abdul Aziz, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Malaya and founding father of Tabung Haji, and journalist and social activist Sharifah Azah Mohamed Alsagoff.

In 1978, Zeti was attached to the South East Asian Research and Training Centre as a research economist, publishing work on monetary and financial economics, capital flows and macroeconomic management.

A mother of two boys, Zeti says being a woman makes no difference in her job.

We have to monitor very closely,'' Zeti said at a Frankfurt conference of the Islamic.

0 billion dollar) economic stimulus package, and Zeti said that a second round could be required to boost growth.

At prevailing rates, there is flexibility for further monetary stimulus to support the economy, Zeti said in an interview with the Business Times when asked whether current rates were low enough to support the economy.

Dr Zeti has served the Bank for more than 20 years, starting in 1985 and has moved around in many various positions and divisions including financial policies, reserve management as well as secretary to the board.

Dr Zeti is the daughter and the only child of the countrys famous academician, Professor Diraja Tun Ungku Aziz.

Zeti was one of the key figures that were involved in the decision to introduce capital controls and the currency floating - a controversial implementation that raised the eye browses of financial critics and the likes.

Apart from being a high flier in the company, Dr Zeti has also written numerous dissertations and publications on monetary, financial economics, Islamic finance, capital flows, macroeconomic, financial reform, restructuring and so on.

Dr Zeti was schooled at Sekolah Menengah Assunta in PJ and received his tertiary education from Universiti Malaya (UM) in Degree of Economics.

Tan Sri Zeti is the one and only woman in Asia who holds the portfolio as a central banks governor, and is also one of the very few women in the world appointed to the highly regarded position.

To reduce the costs of doing business, Zeti said there would be greater flexibility for residents to invest overseas and to borrow in foreign currencies to encourage businesses to diversify into other markets.

However Zeti said in the report the fixed exchange rate regime still “best serves the nation’s interest.

7 per cent in the second quarter and Zeti said that its momentum was expected to be sustained in the near term.

However, Zeti said that strong domestic demand in Asian countries meant regional markets would not face the full brunt of any downturn in the US economy.

Zeti says that Bank Negara was well prepared to oversee the transition.

Zeti says that the overall focus of Malaysia's exchange rate policy will not alter.

Zeti has been very active, for example, in promoting Malaysia as a hub for Islamic finance.

While other centres have developed specific products, such as banking, Zeti says Malaysia is unique in developing a comprehensive Islamic financial system.

Despite these advances, Zeti says continued product innovation is essential.

The lack of effective hedging instruments hasn't proved an issue yet, but Zeti is aware of the pitfalls that might show up were market conditions to turn suddenly.

Zeti is not easily satisfied, though.

Looking ahead, the challenge for Zeti is to continue liberalizing the financial system.

Dr Zeti is Governor of the Central Bank of Malaysia.

Zeti said the central bank expected price pressures to ease considerably next year.

Touching on the potential role of foreign Islamic banking subsidiaries, Zeti said the policy for establishment of the subsidiaries was also part of the initiative to enhance the outreach of Islamic finance and to strengthen international linkages.

Zeti said the foreign subsidiaries have the potential to promote innovative product development and enhanced international integration of the Islamic financial system.

Zeti was appointed as Acting Governor on 1 September 1998, and led the Bank Negara Malaysia team to successfully implement the selective exchange controls to restore stability and promote economic recovery in Malaysia.

Zeti has been actively involved in its development both in the domestic and international arena.

Zeti has also worked closely with other Central Banks in the East Asian region to strengthen regional financial co-operation, and has been involved in a number of regional initiatives.

Zeti was appointed as Acting Governor on 1 September 1998, and managed the successful implementation of selective exchange controls to restore stability and promote economic recovery in Malaysia.

Zeti had served in the South East Asian Central Banks (SEACEN) Research and Training Centre from 1979-1984, where she conducted research in the area of financial policies and reform in the South-East Asian region.

Zeti is actively involved in the development of Islamic finance and in regional financial co-operation.

Zeti said the adjustment in prices was just the first-round effect.

On the ringgit, Zeti said its recent fall reflected the movements of other major currencies worldwide.

On whether Bank Negara has been intervening in the foreign exchange market, as has been speculated by dealers, Zeti said that any intervention it undertakes is to maintain orderly market conditions.

If conditions in the major economies worsen, then further stimulus will definitely be necessary to prevent our economy from slipping into negative territory," Zeti said in the report.

With inflation expected to fall to below 3 percent in the second half of 2009, Zeti said the central bank also has room to further cut interest rates to support growth.

In shooting down talk of Malaysia entering into a recession, Zeti said the reason for slower growth had been the external sector.

Zeti said there were no large scale retrenchments in Malaysia and the position of households was still stable.

Zeti said the central bank still had room for further adjustments on interest rates should the need arise but added that the current overnight policy rate was very low and it is seen as very supportive of growth.

Zeti said the cut in interest rates by countries such as China recently was to promote growth or to avoid a major economic downturn.

On inflation, Zeti said it had peaked at 8.

stability and promote economic recovery in Malaysia.

of Islamic finance and in regional financial cooperation.

rates were low enough to support the economy.

Zeti has been an important figure in driving the growth of Islamic finance, not just in Malaysia but also in other parts of Asia, as well having an influential role in the debate to establish common standards of what is considered Shariah (Islamic law) compliant.

Today Islamic banking accounts for at least 11 percent of Malaysias financial system growth Zeti has led both in the domestic and international arena.

Zeti is a member of Whartons Executive Board for Asia.