Zeti Akhtar Aziz
Zeti Akhtar Aziz (born 26 August 1947) is currently the Group Chairman of Permodalan Nasional Berhad. She was the 7th Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia, Malaysia's central bank. She was Governor from 2000 to 2016, and was the first woman in the position. She was one of the members of the Council of Eminent Persons in Mahathir's second administration, a special advisory council advising the government on economic and financial matters during this transitional period.
Yang Mulia Tan Sri Dato' Sri Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz | |
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اوڠكو زيتي اختر بنت اوڠكو عبدالعزيز | |
7th Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia | |
In office 1 May 2000 – 30 April 2016 | |
Preceded by | Ali Abul Hassan bin Sulaiman |
Succeeded by | Muhammad bin Ibrahim |
Member of the Malaysian Council of Eminent Persons | |
In office 12 May 2018 – 21 August 2018 | |
Preceded by | Position established |
Succeeded by | Position abolished |
Group Chairman of Permodalan Nasional Berhad | |
Assumed office 1 July 2018 | |
Preceded by | Abdul Wahid Omar |
Chairman of Sime Darby Property Bhd | |
Assumed office 23 July 2018 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Zeti Akhtar Aziz August 26, 1947 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malayan Union |
Nationality | Malaysia |
Parents | Ungku Aziz Sharifah Azah Mohamed Alsagoff |
Alma mater | University of Malaya University of Pennsylvania |
Profession | Economist |
Signature |
Early life
Zeti Akhtar Aziz was born in Johor Bahru, Johor on 26 August 1947; to father Ungku Aziz, who is of Malay, Circassian[1][2] and English[3] descent, and mother Sharifah Azah Mohamed Alsagoff, who was of Hadhrami Arab and Malay descent.[4][5] Her father Ungku Aziz was an economist and former vice-chancellor for the University of Malaya from 1968 to 1988. He received the title "Royal Professor".
She received her early education at the Assunta School, Petaling Jaya in 1964. She then completed her Form 6 in St. John's Institution, Kuala Lumpur. In 1970, she received a bachelor's degree in Economics from University Malaya.
She continued her studies in the Department of Economics at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn), an Ivy League university in Philadelphia, receiving a PhD in monetary and international economics in 1978. As part of her PhD, dissertation she carried out pioneering work on capital flows and its implications for monetary policy.
Career
Zeti began her career as an economic analyst for the South-East Asia Central Bank Training & Research Center, remaining at that post from 1979 to 1984. She was then appointed Deputy Manager of the Economics Department at Bank Negara Malaysia.
In 2009, Global Finance named her as one of the world's best central bank chiefs.[6] In 2010 during the national-level Ma'al Hijrah celebrations held that year, the Malaysian government had awarded her with the title of "Tokoh Ma'al Hijrah 1432H" ("Figure of the New Year 1432AH").[7]
On 20 May 2011, Bloomberg columnist William Pesek had picked Zeti, during her post as Bank Negara governor, as one of his top four nominees to head the prestigious International Monetary Fund after the position became vacant following the resignation of Dominique Strauss-Kahn who was arrested in New York, and is presently facing sexual assault charges.[8]
In 2013, she was again accorded “Grade A” among the heads of central banks for the 10th time by the Global Finance magazine. She was awarded alongside Philippines’ central bank governor Amando Tetangco, Jr. and Taiwan’s Central Bank Governor Perng Fai-nan, from a list of central bank governors of more than 50 key countries.[9]
Zeti was named the recipient of Central Banking's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.[10]
Zeti was also the Chairman of the Asian Institute of Finance.
On 12 May 2018, it was announced by the Prime Minister Mahathir that Zeti had been appointed as a member of the Council of Eminent Persons, which would serve as advisors to the new government under Pakatan Harapan after the coalition won the 2018 general election[11] She joined Daim Zainuddin, Robert Kuok, Jomo Kwame Sundaram and Hassan Merican. The purpose of the Council was to advise the Government on matters pertaining to economic and financial matters during the transition of power period.
Zeti was appointed the Group Chairman of Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) on 1 July 2018.[12] She was also appointed the Chairman of Sime Darby Property. She is the first woman to hold the post.[13]
Personal life
Zeti is married to Tawfiq Ayman, and they have two children. Her father is Profesor Diraja Tun Dr. Ungku Abdul Aziz Ungku Abdul Hamid while her mother is Sharifah Azah Mohamed Alsagoff.
Honours
Honours of Malaysia
Malaysia : Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) - Tan Sri (2001)[14]
Johor : Knight Commander of the Order of the Crown of Johor (DPMJ) - Datin Paduka (1998) Second Class (Commander) of the Most Esteemed Royal Family Order of Johor (DK II) (2000)
Pahang : Grand Knight of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP) - Dato' Sri (2002)[14]
Federal Territory (Malaysia) : Grand Knight of the Order of the Territorial Crown (SUMW) - Datuk Seri Utama (2009)[14]
- The Royal Award for Islamic Finance - honouring excellence in Islamic Finance on 3 October 2018
References
- Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas Archived January 14, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, MSA Library Online
- Taking root, branching out, DZIREENA MAHADZIR, April 1, 2007, The Star (Malaysia)
- Abid, Jaafar, pp66
- "Finance's female face". TMCnet.com. 2005-12-29.
- "The world's successful diasporas". managementtoday.com. 2007-04-03.
- "Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz the world's best central bank chief". All Voices.com. Sep 13, 2010.
- "Tan Sri Dr Zeti named 'Tokoh Ma'al Hijrah'". The Star. December 7, 2010.
- "Zeti one of Bloomberg columnist's top picks to head IMF". The Malaysian Insider. May 21, 2011.
- "Bank Negara's Zeti awarded 'Grade A' among central bank governors". The Star. Aug 27, 2013.
- "Lifetime achievement award: Zeti Akhtar Aziz". Central Banking. 2016-01-14. Retrieved 2019-05-14.
- ."Who's who in Mahathir's new Cabinet and Council of Elders". The Straits Times. 12 May 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
- "Zeti apppointed PNB group chairman, takes over from Wahid - Business News | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2018-07-16.
- "Sime Darby Property appoints Zeti as chairman - Business News | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2018-07-25.
- "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat".