In contrast, during periods of capital inflows, it is natural for reserves to be accumulated. Reserves play a role in both circumstances to manage adjustments in the financial markets. This includes ensuring the stability of the exchange rate is preserved. This is how we maintain orderly market conditions. Malaysia’s level of foreign exchange reserves is adequate for our stage of economic development, domestic market structure and external position. Malaysia’s reserves is well-within the adequacy range, placing us in a comfortable position relative to regional peers and fulfilling recognised global standards. Malaysia’s long-term growth prospects also remain favourable. These are reinforced by both naturally occurring domestic economic trends and policy consideration, deliberation and action. Malaysia will also continue to reap its demographic dividends and benefit from a young and productive population for the foreseeable future. As education and income levels continue to rise, an increasingly affluent and informed consumer group would emerge – providing additional impetus for economic growth. Time and again, Malaysian policymakers have continuously supported growth by removing structural impediments and promoting an enabling environment for new growth areas to flourish. Strong banking sector and financial market that intermediate business needs. Malaysia’s diversified and well-developed financial sector can intermediate the business and economic needs of the country, enabling businesses to flourish. Malaysia’s banking sector is one of the strongest and most developed in Asia. Banks are wellcapitalised, with capital in excess of the minimum regulatory requirement of Basel III.

Time and again, our policies have become even more liberalised than before, as we move forward to make the market more competitive, more transparent and more dynamic. Seven months ago, we took swift and pragmatic actions to implement foreign exchange market development measures to stabilise the foreign exchange market. I am pleased to report that these measures are successful, where the 1-month implied volatility has halved. Onshore foreign exchange have recovered to a stable daily average volume of USD10 billion, an increase of 1.25 times before the measures. Daily foreign exchange turnover remains 5 times higher than equity trades. Another policy that merits attention is the global phenomenon of rising inequality. Markets are not always the best arbitrator for the distribution of jobs, wealth and income. In the era of rapid globalisation, advancement in technology and consequently, the creation of a new economy, there are many winners and losers. As responsible policymakers, we need to reconcile the benefactors of the new economy with those who have been excluded or dislocated during this era of transformation. Cognisant of the urgent need to improve our social safety net, the minimum wage was implemented in 2013. Many have benefitted from this, including migrant workers. The B40 group was also given cash assistance to cope with the rising cost of living. In the near future, the protection and wellbeing of workers will be enhanced through the introduction of unemployment insurance. I urge businesses to take a broader view of these policies and not purely from a cost perspective.