MALAYSIAN PM NAJIB URGES FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO SUPPORT INNOVATIVE AND GREEN TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 (Bernama) -– Prime Minister of Malaysia Najib Tun
Razak Friday urged financial institutions to support innovative and green
technology projects that can transform Malaysia into a developed nation.

"I hope banks have the courage to venture and support new enterprises that
are not only exciting but promote innovation, because it will transform
Malaysia," he said at the launch of the refreshed Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank)
Corporate Identity at Menara Maybank, here Friday.

He also hoped that Maybank and other banks would complement and support the
initiatives of the government in launching from time to time, projects as the My
First Home Scheme, the IMalaysia Housing project and new sources of wealth for
the country, such as promoting green technology.

"We have to continue to think of new ideas. We must be bold in creating
new sources of wealth and for that, banks and financial institutions must
support our efforts to take Malaysia to greater heights.

"We cannot stick with the sectors that we are familiar with. We must have
the courage to look at new sources of growth which need to be financed by
financial institutions.

"But for you to do that, you have to acquire new skills, new knowledge and
new talent," he said.

Najib said banks cannot say "no" to a new product or new technology, simply
because they were unfamiliar with it.

He also congratulated Maybank for the success achieved.

"It’s a very strong justification for you to refresh your corporate
identity.

"There are companies that are in trouble and they try to change their logo,
thinking, it will help them recover. But, Maybank, has taken a
different approach. It’s because you are successful, that you are changing and
refreshing your logo," he said.

Meanwhile, President and CEO,Abdul Wahid Omar said Maybank had
spent RM13 million in introducing the refreshed logo.