New RM5 bank notes with polymer technology
 

Sarawak Press

27.10.04

Kuala Lumpur

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has circulated 80 million pieces of RM5 polymer banknotes nation-wide starting yesterday, said BNM Assistant Governor Datuk Mohamad Daud Dol Moin.Speaking at the launch ceremony, he said the public can obtain the polymer banknotes via the central bank’s branches, agents and all commercial banks.With the launch of the polymer banknotes, BNM would stop the issuance of the RM5 paper banknotes.

However, Mohamad Daud said that the existing RM5 paper banknotes in circulation would be considered as legal tender until they were brought back to BNM.To date, Bank Negara had issued a total of 120 million pieces of RM5 paper banknotes.In his speech, he said that the adoption of polymer banknote technology would increase Bank Negara’s portfolio of technological options.

“Bank Negara’s decision to issue RM5 polymer banknotes is a significant strategic move to further diversify our sources of banknotes procurement, supplementing our existing policy and practice of procuring paper banknotes from multiple suppliers,” Mohamad Daud said.The new polymer banknote features, he said are similar to the existing RM5 paper banknote in design, colour and size.It retains some security features in the existing RM5 paper banknote but at the same time also has new enhanced security features that are unique to polymer banknotes.

The new security features incorporated a clear window with the shadow image of the Prime Minister’s office at Putrajaya and an opaque or non transparent window on the back of the banknote with a Kijang logo.Mohamad Daud said that with yesterday’s introduction, Malaysia joins a group of 18 countries around the world that have adopted the polymer banknote technology and issue polymer banknotes for both circulation and commemorative purposes in the past 15 years since the banknote technology was commercialised.

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Old and new: the new security features of the RM5 note (top) incorporated a clear window with the shadow image of the Prime Minister’s office at Putrajaya and an opaque or non transparent window on the back of the banknote with a Kijang logo.