Over the past three decades, the Malaysian economy has achieved annual GDP growth averaging about 7 percent, placing the country in the category of fast-growing Southeast Asian economies. This rapid growth has coincided with a major shift in the structure of the economy from one highly dependent on a small group of primary commodities to one in which manufacturing is the largest sector. Growth has been supported by a rise in the investment rate from an average of 14 percent of GDP in the 1960s to 33 percent in 1990. This increase was facilitated by the growing openness of Malaysia’s economy, since much of the investment came from abroad and was concentrated in export-oriented activities, and in particular a move toward financial liberalization.
The shift toward financial liberalization reflected, in part, the change in the philosophical underpinnings of macroeconomic policies around the world that occurred during the 1970s. Excessive controls and regulations were increasingly viewed as detrimental to efficient resource allocation and rapid economic growth. In general, Malaysia’s objectives in undertaking financial liberalization were intended to enhance efficiency through greater reliance on market forces and to improve the effectiveness of its monetary policy. The key reforms were thus aimed at liberalizing interest rates, reducing controls on credit, enhancing competition and efficiency in the financial system, strengthening the supervisory framework, and promoting the growth and deepening of financial markets. The reforms were also motivated by the need for more flexible and effective policy responses to the severe external shocks experienced by Malaysia. The gradual liberalization of the domestic financial system was accompanied by the relaxation of restrictions on international capital flows and a shift toward more flexible exchange rate arrangements.
Overall, financial liberalization in Malaysia has been a gradual, phased, and continuing process rather than taking place in discrete episodes of comprehensive liberalization. For instance, interest rate liberalization started in 1978, when financial institutions were allowed to freely set their deposit and lending rates; however, the base lending rate was freed from the administrative control of the central bank only in 1991. As the financial market has grown in sophistication and complexity, measures in recent years have been directed toward enhancing the market’s efficiency in allocating scarce resources and ensuring the introduction of and compliance with appropriate prudential regulations.
The Financial System
Malaysia’s financial system can be divided into the banking system and nonbank financial institutions.1 The entire banking system is supervised by the central bank, but of the nonbank financial institutions, the insurance companies are the only ones to be supervised by the central bank.
Banking System
The banking system in Malaysia, which is the major component of the financial sector, consists of the central bank (Bank Negara Malaysia), 37 commercial banks, an Islamic bank, 40 finance companies, 12 merchant banks, 7 discount houses, and 8 money and foreign exchange brokers.
Currently, the institutions are differentiated on the basis of the types of deposits they are legally allowed to mobilize, the types of assets they can hold, and other regulatory constraints imposed on their operations. Since distinctions among banking institutions are increasingly blurred, such a demarcation might not prevail in the future.
Commercial Banks
Commercial banks represent by far the largest component of the banking system, accounting for RM 239.2 billion of the total assets of the financial system at the end of 1994, that is, 38.1 percent of the total assets of the financial system. There are 37 commercial banks operating in Malaysia, of which 23 are domestic banks and 14 are foreign banks, all incorporated in Malaysia. The domestic banks operate 1,139 branches throughout the country, and the foreign banks, 144.
Commercial banks provide all normal banking services, including accepting deposits, granting loans and advances, discounting trade bills and banker’s acceptances, dealing in foreign exchange, and providing business investment advisory services. Although other financial institutions in Malaysia perform similar functions, commercial banks have the additional advantage of being able to offer a wider range of ancillary facilities. These institutions as well as Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad are the only group of financial institutions in the country licensed by the central bank to be check-paying banks. They are also the only group authorized to deal in foreign exchange.
Over the years, the role of commercial banks has evolved from the simple traditional role of mobilizing deposits and utilizing the deposits for the financing of trade and commerce to that of being agents of change in economic development. In terms of portfolio restrictions, commercial banks are not allowed to accept deposits with a maturity of less than one month. They are required, at present, to keep 11.5 percent of their eligible liabilities, on which no interest is paid, as statutory reserves with Bank Negara Malaysia, and to invest an additional 17 percent of these liabilities in liquid assets.
Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad
A milestone in the evolution of the banking system in Malaysia was the incorporation of Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad on March 1, 1983. The purpose of setting up this bank was to provide an avenue for Malaysian Muslims who might want to benefit from the services of a modern banking system but did not want to pay or receive interest, which is forbidden by Islam. The bank offers all the conventional banking services based on Islamic principles and is also required to maintain statutory reserves with the central bank (at present, the ratio is 11.5 percent of its total eligible liabilities). In addition, it is also required to observe a first liquid assets ratio of 10 percent on its total eligible liabilities, excluding investment account liabilities, and a ratio of 5 percent on its investment account liabilities.2
After more than 10 years in operation, Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad has proved to be a viable banking institution, with its activity expanding rapidly throughout the country. The total resources of Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad increased from RM 171 million at the end of 1983 to RM 1,449 million at the end of June 1989, of which deposits accounted for RM 1,272 million or 87.8 percent of total resources. Financing extended by Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad increased from only RM 41 million at the end of 1983 to RM 728 million at the end of June 1989. As at end-1994 total deposits mobilized by the Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad increased sharply to RM 2.9 billion, while financing expanded to RM 1.2 billion.
Finance Companies
The finance companies are the second largest group of deposit-taking institutions in Malaysia. They operate in the medium-term credit market and draw their resources mainly from savings and fixed deposits. They are prohibited from dealing in gold or foreign exchange and from granting overdraft facilities. Loans extended by the finance companies mainly involve hire-purchase loans, leasing finance, housing loans, and loans for a variety of other purposes, particularly for the purchase and development of real estate. The finance companies are required to observe statutory reserve and liquidity requirements.
Merchant Banks
Merchant banks are licensed to operate as specialized financial intermediaries in the money and capital markets. Since their emergence in the early 1970s, merchant banks have expanded their scope of operations by providing a wide range of specialized services, including issuing-house and underwriting facilities, corporate financing, financial investment, management advice, and portfolio investment management. Other activities include money market operations, trading of money market instruments in the secondary markets, and related banking functions. At the end of December 1994, there were 12 merchant banks with a total of 17 offices operating in the country; their total resources amounted to RM 14.6 billion. The merchant banks are required to observe statutory reserve and liquidity requirements.
Discount Houses
The role of the discount houses has changed substantially over the years. When they were first set up in the 1960s and 1970s, their role was envisaged as that of “keepers of liquidity.” The overnight deposits and call money placed by the financial institutions with the discount houses qualified as liquid assets, and this privilege enabled the discount houses to mobilize funds at below-market rates. Moreover, they were the only financial institutions allowed to accept corporate deposits of less than one-month maturity. The funds mobilized by the discount houses were invested in Malaysian government paper (at least 75 percent and not more than 25 percent), banker’s acceptances, and negotiable certificates of deposit.
Various actions were taken over the years to change the role of the discount houses from that of merely “keepers of liquidity” to that of bona fide securities dealers. Before October 1987, the discount houses had to invest at least 85 percent of their portfolios in government paper, while the permissible maximum holdings of banker’s acceptances and negotiable certificates of deposit was only 15 percent. The ratio was changed to 75/25 in October 1987. The maximum permissible maturity of the instruments held by the discount houses was lengthened in January 1989 from 3 years to 5 years, and in June 1990 the maturity period was further lengthened to 10 years. Another important change introduced in June 1990 was the discontinuation of the 75/25 ratio and its replacement with a risk-weighted capital adequacy ratio, to provide as much flexibility as possible for the discount houses to hold the permissible assets in whatever proportion they wished, subject only to the risk-weighted capital adequacy constraint. The discount houses are not subject to the statutory reserve and liquidity requirements.
Nonbank Financial Institutions
Among the nonbank financial institutions, only the insurance companies are regulated and supervised by the central bank. They comprise insurance and reinsurance companies, the Islamic insurance companies, insurance brokers, and loss adjusters.
The other nonbank financial institutions are supervised by government agencies other than the central bank. These institutions can be divided into four major groups: the development finance institutions, the savings institutions, the provident and pension funds, and a group of other financial intermediaries, made up of building societies, unit trusts, and several investment agencies.
Interest Rate Reforms
Interest rates were liberalized in 1978, allowing financial institutions to freely set their deposit and lending rates. This led to increased competition among banks and resulted in an increase in interest rates. Thereafter, from November 1, 1983, all borrowing rates except those charged to the priority sectors were anchored to each bank’s declared base lending rate, which was based on each bank’s cost of funds after providing for the cost of statutory reserves, liquid asset requirements, and overhead costs. As the actual cost of credit to borrowers was determined by the base lending rate and an interest margin based on the borrower’s credit standing, this measure was intended to remove much of the banks’ discretion in setting their lending rates. The introduction of the base lending rate was inspired by the fact that when banks were allowed to decide their own lending and deposit rates, the lending rates tended to behave in an asymmetrical manner. When the cost of funds rose, banks immediately passed it on to their customers in the form of higher lending rates. However, when the cost of funds declined, banks tended to delay the adjustment in their lending rates.
In the tight liquidity environment of 1985, interest rates rose sharply as the financial institutions bid for funds. The high level of interest rates was inconsistent with the fact that Malaysia was in the middle of its worst recession ever. Not wanting to reimpose direct controls, yet keen to restrain the unhealthy bidding up of interest rates, the central bank persuaded the commercial banks and finance companies to peg their interest rates for deposits of up to 12-month maturities to the deposit rate of the two leading domestic banks, effective October 21, 1985. The maximum differential vis-à-vis the two lead banks was 0.5 percentage points for the commercial banks and 1.5 percentage points for the finance companies. Subsequently, when the economy recovered and liquidity returned to the system, the pegged interest rate arrangement was dismantled in February 1987, allowing all financial institutions once again to determine freely their deposit rates.
The central bank, however, remained concerned by the fact that when deposit rates declined, the commercial banks and finance companies adjusted their base lending rates and actual lending rates only after a long lag. After using moral suasion several times to lower these rates, the central bank issued guidelines on September 1, 1987, limiting the base lending rate of the commercial banks to no more than 0.5 percentage points above that of the two lead banks. The margin by which lending rates could exceed the base lending rate was limited to no more than 4 percentage points, depending on the borrower’s credit standing. Penalty rates on delinquent loans were not to exceed 1 percent a year. The finance companies were subject to a similar set of guidelines.
As of February 1, 1991, the base lending rate was freed from the administrative control of the central bank. Each commercial bank or finance company became free to set its base lending rate based on its own cost of funds including the cost of holding statutory reserves and the liquid asset requirement and administrative costs but excluding the cost of provisions for bad and questionable debts. Except for interest rates on lending to certain priority sectors, which are still subject to central bank guidelines, all other interest rates are now freely determined by market forces. The emergence of market-oriented yield curves will benefit the future development of the capital markets, particularly the development of viable secondary markets for public and private securities.
Modernization of the Money Market
The money market, where financial institutions trade short-term funds, forms an integral part of the Malaysian financial system. It provides a ready source of funds for market participants in need of funding, and investment outlets for those with temporary surplus funds. In Malaysia, the major financial institutions are the participants in the money market, and the development of the financial system and that of the money market are closely interrelated.
New Money Market Instruments
In May 1979, the central bank introduced negotiable certificates of deposit and banker’s acceptances to increase the variety of paper available in the money market. Both these instruments proved to be popular with investors. From a mere RM 200 million at the end of 1979, the amount of outstanding negotiable certificates of deposit increased to RM 9,156 million by end-1989, whereas the outstanding amount of banker’s acceptances increased from RM 825 million to RM 2,029 million over the same period. From February 1987, six merchant banks that met the minimum capital requirement of RM 30 million were allowed to issue negotiable certificates of deposit for the first time. The value of negotiable certificates of deposit issued by the financial institutions rose to RM 28.4 billion by May 1995.
In 1980, the central bank issued its own certificates but these were not actively traded in the market as the financial institutions were required to hold them for liquidity requirements. In July 1983, non-interest-bearing Government Investment Certificates (GICs) were introduced to allow Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad and other institutions to invest their liquid funds on an Islamic basis. The returns are declared by the government on the anniversary date of the issue of the certificates. The outstanding volume of these certificates increased from RM 100 million at end-1983 to RM 1,000 million at end-1989, and as of 1995 stood at RM 4.8 billion.
With the establishment of a national mortgage corporation (Cagamas Berhad), mortgage-backed bonds were first issued in October 1987. These bonds are issued on an auction basis through a system of principal dealers. By June 1995, the total outstanding amount of Cagamas bonds was RM 10.1 billion. In June 1988, floating rate negotiable certificates of deposit were introduced. The interest rates on these certificates are adjusted every three or six months based on the Kuala Lumpur interbank offered rate. In January 1989, the central bank issued guidelines, to provide a framework for the growing market in corporate bonds and promissory notes. By the end of 1989, the total funds raised through the issue of private debt securities increased to RM 1.7 billion from RM 295 million in 1987, and as of December 1994, the issue of private debt securities had reached RM 8.8 billion.
On February 1993, the central bank introduced a new monetary instrument known as Bank Negara Bills. These central bank bills were introduced in an effort to manage effectively the liquidity in the financial system. As of June 1995, the outstanding amount of Bank Negara Bills amounted to RM 3.9 billion.
The central bank also took steps to develop a market for corporate bonds. Given the objective of deepening the financial system, viable primary and secondary markets for private debt securities are necessary to provide corporations and institutional borrowers with alternative sources of funds and to give investors more avenues to invest in a wide range of financial assets. Initial steps to this end were taken when the central bank issued guidelines on the issue of private debt securities. A private credit rating agency was incorporated under the name of Rating Agency Malaysia Berhad, which is privately owned; neither the government nor the central bank is involved in its management or operation. The credit standing of debt issuers is determined independently by the rating agency. Market development for corporate bonds should contribute significantly to active primary and secondary markets for the capital and money market in general.
Modernization of the Payment System
Apart from encouraging greater computerization and modernization of bank operations, the central bank also implemented several new arrangements to improve the efficiency of the financial system. The Kuala Lumpur Automated Clearing House came into operation in early 1984 to provide automated processing of checks cleared through the commercial banks. The coverage was subsequently broadened in stages throughout the country. The Day One Settlement System was introduced in 1986, giving same-day value to local checks deposited with the banks. More important, the Day One Settlement System promoted interest rate stability, as its mechanism ensured that at the end of the day, when all the checks were cleared, those banks with a net surplus would automatically lend funds on an overnight basis to banks with a deficit, at a rate equivalent to the weighted average overnight rate transacted in the money market that day. Therefore, there was no need for banks to scramble for funds toward the end of the day, which previously had pushed interest rates up to unreasonable levels.
Toward the end of 1989, the Interbank Funds Transfer System, an online electronic fund transfer system, was implemented to expedite daily interbank fund transfers and settlements among participating institutions. This was followed by the introduction of the Scripless Securities Trading System in January 1990. This is an on-line book-entry system that effects and records the trading of government paper and Cagamas bonds (that is, mortgage-backed bonds) between member institutions. It is an efficient system for settlement between counterparts, registering securities, and keeping up-to-date records of the stock in security accounts. Since scrips are not issued, the risk of loss, destruction, and forgery of certificates has also been eliminated.
Modernization of Government Securities Market
The modernization of the government securities market has been a key element of financial reforms in Malaysia.
Securities Issued by the Government
The government issues the following types of securities: treasury bills, Malaysian Government Securities, and Government Investment Certificates.
Treasury Bills
Treasury bills are essentially money market instruments with short-term maturities not exceeding one year. They are bearer promissory notes issued at a discount. The government started issuing treasury bills in 1955 and, until August 1973, these were issued on demand. The rate of discount was predetermined by the government on the recommendation of the central bank. Since August 20, 1973, however, treasury bills have been sold by regular weekly tenders in order to promote greater competition in the market and to encourage a wider range of investors. The amount of issue generally depends on the short-term financing needs of the federal government and market demand. The main investors in treasury bills are the licensed banks, finance companies, and discount houses. The licensed banks and finance companies hold treasury bills mainly for liquidity requirements. As of June 1995, the amount of outstanding treasury bills was RM 4.3 billion.
Malaysian Government Securities
These are essential capital market instruments with medium- to long-term maturities, ranging from 3 years up to 21 years. The Malaysian Government Securities (MGS) market is the largest component of the Malaysian capital market in terms of primary funds raised. As of the end of June 1995, the amount of MGS outstanding was RM 64.5 billion. These securities are the main vehicle used by the federal government to raise funds for longer-term development projects.
Government Investment Certificates
These certificates are non-interest-bearing bonds equivalent to MGS. The issuance of Government Investment Certificates (GIC) was necessitated by the establishment of Malaysia’s first Islamic bank—the Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad. Since the operations of an Islamic bank are based on Islamic principles, such a bank cannot, among other things, purchase or trade in MGS, treasury bills, banker’s acceptances, or other financial instruments yielding a predetermined fixed rate of return, or interest. As there is, however, a real need for Islamic banks to hold liquid assets (just like conventional banks) to satisfy statutory liquidity requirements as well as to “park” temporary surplus funds, appropriate alternative financial instruments have to be developed. Even as the original purpose was to cater to the liquidity requirement for Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad, it should be noted that there are many other Islamic institutions and Muslims in the country that could benefit from the introduction of the GIC.
The crucial issues relating to the introduction of GIC were the determination of a fair rate of return for the investor and the establishment of a suitable basis for trading GIC in the secondary market. As a predetermined interest would not be in line with Islamic banking principles, the alternative would be to pay dividends to the investors. Various options were studied to determine the best basis for deciding a fair rate of return to investors. In this regard, the Islamic Qard-al-Hasan principle was eventually adopted, whereby the purchase of GIC by the public is considered a benevolent loan to the government to enable it to undertake projects or provide services for the benefit of the nation. The providers of the funds cannot expect any return on their loans, but they can expect the principal amount to be returned in full at maturity. The government is not obliged to provide any return to the holders of GIC. However, it can, as a sign of goodwill, provide some form of return to the investors; this return on investment would be in the form of dividends. To implement this, a Dividend Committee was formed to advise the government on the appropriate rate of dividend, which is declarable on the anniversary date of the GIC issued. Basically, the Committee takes into account the economic conditions of the country, the existing yield levels of other financial instruments, and the rate of inflation as the basis for its recommendation to the government.
Since the GIC are intended to be liquid assets for Islamic banks, they must be marketable. Being non-interest-bearing instruments, they cannot be traded on the conventional yield mechanism. As it is, they can only be transferable at par. To ensure fairness to investors, the dividends (if any) declared by the government are shared among holders, based on the period for which they have held them. The central bank also decided to provide last resort facilities to GIC holders by purchasing the certificates at par. Since their introduction in 1983, the amount of GIC issued had increased significantly, from RM 100 million at end-1983 to RM 4.8 billion in June 1995.
Development of Malaysian Government Securities Market
Until the mid-1950s, the amount of MGS issued was insignificant, mainly reflecting the small financing needs of the government at that time. The achievement of independence by Malaysia in 1957 and the subsequent emphasis on economic development based on the economic diversification and industrialization strategy required the government to spend massive sums of money to develop the infrastructural base.
To raise funds, the government issued MGS. The following measures were adopted to ensure that MGS were attractive to investors: transactions in MGS were exempted from stamp duty; MGS could be tendered as payment for estate duty at par value; a higher commission was paid to brokers for facilitating MGS than for other trading; and interest income earned by individual holders of MGS was exempted from income tax.
At the same time, a captive market was created by requiring certain institutions to hold MGS as a mandatory investment. The aim of this requirement was to ensure some diversification of investors and to secure a stable source of funds for the government’s budgetary requirements.
The Employee Provident Fund—the largest provident fund in the country—is required to invest 70 percent of its total assets in MGS. The National Savings Bank’s minimum investment in MGS is set at 65 percent of its total assets. Licensed banks and finance companies, which are required to hold a minimum amount of liquid assets, were encouraged to hold MGS to satisfy this requirement as MGS were designated as liquid assets irrespective of their maturity and no cap was imposed on the amount of MGS that could be held and be counted as liquid assets. Discount houses were set up to act as keepers of liquidity for government paper.
The buildup of the volume of MGS in the primary issue market in the period 1950—80, however, did not give rise to an active secondary market. This was partly due to the imposition of the above mandatory investment requirements on the various institutions, which meant that they tended to keep their MGS until maturity, and partly because the macroeconomic conditions during the period were not conducive to secondary market transactions. Until 1978, interest rates in the deposit market were regulated to the extent that there was little market movement. Yields of MGS in turn remained steady, with very infrequent changes. There was, therefore, little room for risk-taking activities.
The inertia in the development of the MGS market was eventually broken in the mid-1980s. The country’s public finance deficit had risen by 1982 to an untenable level of 17.9 percent of GNP, or RM 10.7 billion. This led the government to review its financial management. The squeeze on the government’s resources brought into focus important issues related to the overall domestic financial system, including its allocative efficiency, ability to mobilize domestic financial resources, and risk-taking capacity. After the deregulation of interest rates in 1978, a serious distortion began to develop in the system. The yields on MGS were generally below those of comparable nongovernment financial assets. The differential yield became particularly pronounced in the 1980s, as increased competition for funds in the private sector resulted in higher commercial lending and deposit rates. One factor contributing to this situation was the crowding-out effect of the huge public sector borrowing requirements.
The state of the MGS market after the 1978 deregulation of interest rates gave rise to the following five areas of concern:
It discouraged the development of an active secondary market in MGS, thereby limiting the growth of this important segment of the overall capital market. The yields on MGS were regulated and not market determined. In contrast, deposit rates were allowed to be set by the banks after October 1978. Previously, deposit rates (like the MGS yields) were determined by the central bank in consultation with the banks. Furthermore, the bulk of MGS was held in the portfolios of financial institutions and the Employee Provident Funds to satisfy their statutory minimum requirements, which reduced the availability of MGS in the trading market;
It limited the ability of the central bank to regulate and control the money supply and credit through active open market operations, given that the bulk (more than 80 percent) of MGS were held to meet statutory requirements;
The mandatory legal requirements squeezed and “crowded out” the supply of risk capital to private sector corporations, by directing trust institutions to invest in MGS, thereby increasing the premium charged on the more risky corporate obligations. Long-term funds were made available to the public sector at a much cheaper price than shorter-term funds to the private sector;
It distorted the interest rate structure of the financial system as financial intermediaries attempted to pass the implicit “tax” on holding MGS partly to borrowers, through higher lending rates, and partly to depositors, through lower deposit rates; and
It underestimated the full impact of budget deficits, thereby delaying fiscal adjustment. This is particularly so wherever the rate of interest of MGS is lower than the perceived market rate, which was often the case in Malaysia. The interest charged on the government’s borrowing was correspondingly lower, so that the real cost of the deficits was not clearly identified in the budget.
It was immediately recognized that the yield structure of MGS should be market related to correct the inefficient allocation of scarce funds in the system. Market-determined MGS yields would provide investors with a more accurate assessment of portfolio choices and an appropriate interest rate benchmark for other debt securities of similar maturities. The implication for the government was that it would have to compete with the private sector for funds. It was also clear that tailored measures had to be taken to develop the secondary market.
A plan to develop the MGS market was conceived with the understanding that the successful development of an active secondary market in MGS would simultaneously require: (1) appropriate changes in the operating procedures of monetary management in order to increase the role of the market in providing liquidity for the MGS market; (2) reduction of the scope of captive markets in MGS by progressively modifying the statutory requirements and revising related regulations; and (3) modifications in the government’s debt-management strategy with a view to moving toward market-related pricing in primary issues, to facilitate secondary trading.
The following actions have been taken so far to allow the market to determine MGS rates:
Supportive financial reforms were introduced in 1986 and 1987, including the uppegging of interest rates on deposits; allowing the banking system to maintain its liquidity ratio and statutory reserves ratio on an average basis; expanding the number of money market participants by allowing well-capitalized finance companies to participate in the interbank money market; using the Kuala Lumpur interbank offered rate as an official indicator of the conditions in the money market; realigning in stages the statutory reserve ratio of the commercial banks, finance companies, and merchant banks to bring about greater competition (this was completed in May 1989); and establishing the Day One Settlement System, under which banks are required to give Day One value for all local checks and other items deposited by customers into their accounts.
The central bank also made its first move to issue MGS with market-related coupon rates with effect from 1989, and initiated trading by way of “nudging” operations.3
Given the above supportive reforms and the conducive macroeconomic environment, a number of major reforms were introduced in January 1989 to bring about a more effective secondary market for government papers:
A principal dealership system for government securities was introduced on January 1, 1989. A total of 18 principal dealers were appointed, consisting of 4 commercial banks, 7 merchant banks, and 7 discount houses. These dealers underwrite the primary issues of MGS and are obliged to provide two-way quotations in the secondary market;
At the same time, an auction system for the shorter-maturity MGS primary issues (maturities of 10 years and less) was also implemented. However, the longer-dated issues are still offered on a subscription basis; and
The size of the weekly treasury bill offering was standardized at RM 100 million per issue. The same principal dealers system was also introduced for the auction of the treasury bills.
To further refine the method of creating an MGS market attuned to real market forces, the central bank altered the basis of submission of bids by the principal dealers. Under the auction system for MGS issues installed in early 1989, the central bank would fix the coupon rate of the issue based on the prevailing market yield curve. The principal dealers would submit their bids on a price basis. The cutoff price below which bids were not accepted was determined by the bids received and by the amount of MGS the government wanted to issue. As the central bank had set the coupon rate in advance, a change in the market rates during the interval between the announcement of the issue and the actual auction date would result in bid prices being different from the par value of the MGS. The government therefore faced uncertainty in the amount of funds that it could receive. Another problem with the fixing of the coupon rates was that the market tended to move toward the announced coupon rate, thereby disturbing the market. To ensure that the government obtained the funds in the quantity that was required, and to allow the market to determine the price of capital, it was decided that from October 1990, principal dealers would be required to submit their bids on a yield basis. The coupon rate for the MGS issue would be determined by the yield bids submitted. Competition among the principal dealers would therefore be also enhanced.
Flexibility of operation is important to the securities dealers. In recognition of this, the central bank freed the discount houses from rigid portfolio restrictions. Previously, the discount houses were required to maintain at least 75 percent of their investments in government paper and Cagamas bonds. This restriction was lifted in June 1990. Discount houses are now free to decide their own portfolio structure. This flexibility is a prerequisite for the effective transformation of the discount houses from their keepers-of-liquidity role to that of true securities dealers. At the same time, discount houses have also been allowed to invest in paper with original maturities of up to ten years, up from the previous limit of five years.
Given all the above reforms, the MGS market seems poised to develop into a truly efficient and liquid market in the years ahead. This scenario is more conceivable now than a few years ago. The major challenge in the near future is to formulate and implement measures that will progressively reduce the size of the captive market. One way to do this is to regularize the issuance of MGS. In time, the MGS market should become more professional, and the central bank could conduct open market operations more effectively. The measures and reforms already undertaken will be continued, and additional innovations will be introduced. Moreover, once the cash market is sufficiently deep, the setting will be appropriate for the introduction of financial futures.
MGS Market Development and Monetary Policy
The most important institutional reform was the appointment of a panel of principal dealers with whom the central bank could conduct its open market operations on its own initiative. A total of 18 financial institutions (4 commercial banks, 7 merchant banks, and 7 discount houses) were originally appointed as principal dealers for MGS. Another 5 commercial banks were accorded principal dealer status in 1990, bringing to 23 the total number of principal dealers for government securities.
In June 1990, the principal dealer system for treasury bills was also extended to the commercial banks and merchant banks, which are the principal dealers for MGS. Previously, only the seven discount houses were principal dealers for treasury bills. The main responsibilities of the principal dealers are to underwrite new issues of MGS and provide two-way quotations in the secondary market for selected issues. Only the principal dealers have access to the central bank’s discount window. Moreover, the central bank’s open market operations would be conducted only through these dealers. As such, the central bank’s role in the money market has changed from one of responding to the needs of each individual institution to one of maintaining liquidity in the financial system as a whole. Individual institutions—other than principal dealers—that have excess liquidity or are short of funds will now have to cover their positions in the market, and no longer with the central bank.
Unlike the past practice of accepting advance subscriptions from all institutions, issues of MGS with maturities of up to 10 years are now auctioned through the principal dealers, except in the cases of the Employee Provident Funds and the National Savings Bank. Longer-dated issues are still offered on a subscription basis for these two institutions. To fully integrate the primary issues market into a completely market-based system, the next step would obviously be to introduce auctions of MGS for all maturities. Once the auction system is wholly established, the longer-term rate structure should improve. When this happens, the undistorted MGS rates could act as true benchmarks for rationalizing longer-term bond rates in the private sector.
Before the introduction of the Day One Settlement System, the overnight rate for interbank funds could be highly volatile. One of the preconditions required for the development of an active secondary market is interest rate stability, although not to the extent that the rates do not move at all over long periods. The Day One Settlement System introduced in 1986 promoted interest rate stability, as already mentioned.
To further improve the operational efficiency of funds and securities transfers and thus enhance monetary policy transmission, the central bank established a “scripless” book-entry securities trading and funds transfer system known as SPEEDS. This system comprises an Interbank Funds Transfer System to effect and record transfers of funds between the central bank and the participating institutions, and among the participating institutions themselves; and a Scripless Securities Trading System to effect and record the trading of MGS, treasury bills, GIC, Bank Negara Bills, and Cagamas bonds, collectively known as SSTS securities.
Essentially SPEEDS is a “paperless” transfer system, whereby paper documents have been replaced by electronic transfers through computers located on the premises of all the participating institutions. The system provides a book-entry method for the confirmation, transfer, recording, and settlement of trade in SSTS securities. Previously, trading in these securities required the exchange of letters, movement of paper securities for registration of new ownership, and the issue of payment instructions. The new system enhances the ease of trading and the speed at which it can be effected, and another important advantage is that large denominations of securities are no longer a hindrance to small-time investors, because the book-entry system allows the large denominations to be split into smaller amounts, thereby significantly broadening the potential investor base for the SSTS securities.
Concluding Remarks
Since the establishment of Bank Negara Malaysia in 1958 as the nation’s monetary authority, the Malaysian financial system has evolved into one of the more developed and liberal systems in the region, able to service the needs of the expanding and changing structure of the Malaysian economy.
During the past 35 years, the Malaysian economy has undergone profound structural changes, evolving from a primary commodity producer into an increasingly diversified and broad-based economy with an expanding industrial base. The changes in the economy have been most marked in the last five years, which also saw the most intense development of the financial system. The banking system has matured. The deregulation of the financial system, which was stalled by the recession of the late 1980s, resumed and intensified, with the aims of increased competition, increased depth in the money market, and further development of the capital market, particularly the secondary market for MGS.
To a large extent, this progress reflected the conduct of macroeconomic policies and strategies geared toward the industrialization and modernization of the economy and the effective implementation of a market-oriented and outward-looking economic system. More important was that these policies were implemented in a pragmatic and flexible manner, with a willingness by the government to change policies quickly, and that these policies became market based.
Concomitant with the institutional reform, structural reform of the monetary system proceeded with vigor. The most important step was the complete deregulation of the interest rate regime in February 1991, when the base lending rate of the banking institutions was completely freed from the administrative control of the central bank. This reform measure created a new interest rate regime, whereby interest rates were determined by the dictates of market forces. This important step means that Malaysia is now one of the few financial markets in the region with an interest rate regime free of government control.
Appendix I
Structure of the Malaysian Financial System
(As at December 31, 1994)
The Banking Institutions
The Banking Institutions
The Banking Institutions
Nonbank Financial Intermediaries
*Supervised by the Central Bank.’Registered with the Central Bank.Nonbank Financial Intermediaries
*Supervised by the Central Bank.’Registered with the Central Bank.Nonbank Financial Intermediaries
*Supervised by the Central Bank.’Registered with the Central Bank.Appendix II
Statutory and Liquidity Requirements
Statutory and liquidity requirements are important policy instruments used by the central bank to achieve its monetary objectives. The trend has been to ease the burden of carrying reserves by allowing the financial institutions more flexibility in meeting the requirements. As of February 1987, the commercial banks, finance companies, and merchant banks were allowed to observe the minimum liquidity requirement on a two-week average basis, subject to a maximum daily variation of 2 percentage points above or below the requirement. Previously, this requirement had to be met daily. In addition to lowering the costs of operations of the financial institutions, the measure was also intended to dampen the volatility in the interbank market interest rates caused by banks seeking funds to meet the daily requirements. Similarly, from January 1989, the banking institutions were allowed to observe an average statutory reserve ratio within a 0.5 percentage point band over a two-week period. The statutory reserve ratio for the banking institutions was realigned so that all of them had a common ratio, thus placing them on a more even footing and promoting greater competition. The primary liquidity ratios of the finance companies and commercial banks were abolished in January 1989 and June 1990, respectively.
Beginning July 1, 1990, the commercial banks, finance companies, and merchant banks were required to observe the statutory reserve ratio and the minimum liquidity requirement by averaging eligible liabilities instead using a single base day. To illustrate, the statutory reserve ratio and minimum liquidity requirement observed during July 1–15, 1990, were computed based on the average daily amount of eligible liquidities in the base period June 1–15, 1990. The statutory reserve ratio and minimum liquidity requirement for July 18–31, 1990, were based on the average daily amount of eligible liabilities in the base period June 16–30, 1990. With the averaging of eligible liabilities, the computation of both statutory reserve ratio and minimum liquidity requirement now have a common base period. At present, the statutory reserve ratio stands at 11.5 percent of the eligible liabilities base of the financial institutions.
The structure of the financial system in Malaysia is schematically illustrated in Appendix I.
General and special investment account liabilities are those deposits accepted under the Islamic principle of Mudharabah. Special investment deposits allow the depositors to specify the manner in which the deposits are to be utilized by the bank; they are paid profits or made to bear losses from the use of their deposits. Profits are paid to the general investment account holders out of the bank’s revenue from its financing and investment activities, based on an agreed predetermined profit-sharing ratio.
“Nudging” operations are transactions undertaken by the central bank to buy and sell securities with the financial institutions in order to activate secondary market trading activities.
