FURTHER LIBERALISATION OF FEP BY BNM SEEN AS TIMELY TO REVIVE THE ECONOMY

KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 -- Further liberalisation of the foreign exchange policy (FEP) by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) is a big positive move and timely as it can support Malaysia’s economic revival post-COVID-19 pandemic.

This is a very good news indeed to multinational companies (MNC) in the country, given greater flexibilities accorded to the export-oriented industries to secure better business operations, cash flow and foreign exchange (forex) risk management.

Oleon (Asia-Pacific) Sdn Bhd finance manager Henry Chin said the liberalisation measures would help reduce the cost of doing business in Malaysia, therefore would attract more foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country.

“Of course, (it will benefit MNCs with) lower foreign exchange risk exposure via natural hedging in the competitive market. 

“In addition, operations will have more time to formulate and focus on other risk management strategies,” he told Bernama.

Chin added that business risk would always exist, but the key success factors were how resilience and  a company reacts to changes and its risk management strategy.

Meanwhile, Panasonic Financial Centre (M) Sdn Bhd managing director Doris Tay said the decision to further liberalise the FEP would improve Malaysia’s competitiveness to attract FDI into the country.

“With offsetting and settlement in foreign currency liberalisation, natural hedge can be carried out more efficiently,” he added.

BNM had, in late March, announced a further liberalisation of the FEP as part of its continued efforts to strengthen Malaysia’s position in the global supply chain and foster a conducive environment in attracting FDI into the country.

The liberalisation provides greater flexibility to businesses, among others, the removal of export conversion rule and resident exporters can settle domestic trade in foreign currency with other residents involved in the global supply chain.

Resident exporters can also extend the period for its repatriation of export proceeds beyond six months under exceptional circumstances, as well as undertake commodity derivatives hedging directly with non-resident counterparties.

-- BERNAMA