KUALA LUMPUR: The line between financial stability and crisis can be measured in minutes, and institutions that hesitate risk losing public confidence, said Perbadanan Insurans Deposit Malaysia (PIDM) chief executive officer Rafiz Azuan Abdullah. Rafiz stressed that resolution planning is not about predicting the next financial crisis but about ensuring preparedness.
“It is about making sure that when disruption comes, institutions are ready to act swiftly and decisively,” he said. He emphasised that timing, information, and coordination play a critical role in minimising risks during financial disruptions. “The more we know, the faster we act.
The earlier we intervene, the more options we have.
“The more structured our response, the greater the confidence we preserve.
That is how we protect the system and reduce disruption,” he said in his closing remarks during the National Resolution Symposium (NRS) 2025 held at Connexion Conference & Event Centre here yesterday. Drawing a parallel with Malaysia’s independence in 1957, he said the same spirit of resilience and responsibility that shaped the nation must guide the financial sector today.
“Just as independence was a milestone in our nationhood, resolution planning marks a milestone in building a mature and resilient Malaysian system,” he added.
He highlighted several lessons from the symposium: that uncertainty is no longer a distant possibility but a present reality; that preparedness must be built in advance; that timing and coordination matter across borders and institutions; and that communication in a crisis must be fast, clear and credible.
“In a crisis, speed, clarity and credibility in messaging can be the difference between containment and contagion,” he said.
Meanwhile, marking PIDM’s 20th anniversary, Rafiz said the agency has grown from a deposit insurer into a full-fledged resolution authority, working largely behind the scenes to safeguard public trust.
“Our work often happens behind the scenes, but the impact is felt in the quiet confidence Malaysians have in the stability of our financial system. “Resilience is not lost in the storm, it is lost in the peace time.
Through preparation, coordination and shared purpose we will define how well we withstand the next challenge,” he said.
