New EPU Minister

Thursday March 20, 2008
New EPU head a true professional, say bankers and ex-colleagues
By YAP LENG KUEN and ELAINE ANG
PETALING JAYA: Seasoned banker turned minister Datuk Amirsham Aziz’s primary challenge would be to help rebuild competitiveness for Malaysia after having successfully done that for its flagship bank.
“His skill is in cost efficiency and building a framework of financial discipline. If the leaders are serious about transparency and cost efficiency, he is the right man for the job. He must be given the support to use that skill,” said Datuk Mohd Hussein, former deputy president and chief financial officer of Maybank and Amirsham’s colleague for 30 years.
Amirsham, Malayan Banking Bhd’s outgoing president and CEO, will head the EPU.

Amirsham: Steered Maybank out of the Asian financial crisis relatively unscathed.“He is conscious of social responsibilities,” added Mohd Hussein. “He balances that with his role as custodian of public money and has been tenacious in enforcing that culture.”
Spencer Lee, head of consumer banking at Maybank and Amirsham’s former colleague, said: “He encourages people to give their views and can see the bigger picture. He can withstand tremendous pressure. I have never seen him raise his voice. He’ll make a point and tell us to move on.”
Prior to joining Maybank, Amirsham served with Hanafiah Raslan Mohamad, a public accountant firm for four years.
His credentials have been exemplary since he became the bank’s managing director in 1994 and subsequently president and CEO in 2002, having started his career there in 1977.
He steered Maybank out of the Asian financial crisis in 1997/98 relatively unscathed.
Agil Natt, CEO of the International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance (INCEIF), said Amirsham was fair and would not compromise when he believes in something. “He will articulate why he believes in it and most of the time, we realise that he makes the right decisions based on his experience.”
“With him, it is not a one-man show. He listens to views that are contrary to his,” said Agil who has worked with Amirsham for more than 10 years and retired recently as deputy president.
Affin Bank CEO Datuk Seri Hamidy Hafiz said: “He is very disciplined in his thought processes. Those who come to see him must put on reality rather than showmanship.”
Some analysts, however, think banking is very different from what Amirsham is required to do now.
One of his major tasks would be to expedite the implementation of the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) and the economic corridors.
In addition, players in the building materials sector foresee continued rising costs of steel and cement to hinder the rolling out of the 9MP projects.