Bank Negara Malaysia has announced that a new series design of Malaysian banknotes and coins will be issued for circulation in 2012, an exercise that is undertaken periodically every twelve years. The latest series of Malaysian banknotes draws its inspiration from the distinctive features of Malaysia, incorporating elements of the country's natural treasures, culture and heritage. Themed 'Distinctively Malaysia', the banknotes features traditional expressions in the art and craft, natural wonders, flora and fauna and the economy.
It will also have enhanced security elements in line with the latest advancements in technology such as shadow image, clear window, watermark portrait with pixel and highlighted numerals, colour shifting security thread, micro lens thread, perfect see-through register, coloured glossy patch for public recognition. Other features include tactile identification which enables the visually impaired to identify and distinguish the different denominations
for currency notes. The banknotes issued are in the denominations of RM1, RM5, RM10, RM20 and RM100 and will be available for circulation in the second half of 2012. The RM50 denomination banknote for the new currency series is already in circulation since December 2007 to commemorate Malaysia’s 50th Anniversary of Independence and will continue to remain in circulation. For this new series, polymer substrate is used to make the RM1 and RM5 banknotes. The coins for this series, with denominations of 5 sen, 10 sen, 20 sen and 50 sen, were launched earlier on 25 July 2011 and will be introduced into circulation in January 2012. Banknotes Design - All banknote denominations in the new series retain the portrait of the first Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Rahman ibni Tuanku Muhammad, the national flower Rosa-sinensishibiscus (known locally as the 'Bunga Raya'), the face value of the banknote, the words 'Bank Negara Malaysia' as the issuing authority of the banknotes and patterns of traditional woven fabric the 'songket' which are in the background and edges of the banknote to reflect traditional Malaysian textile handicraft and embroidery. Other features include the tactile identification for the visual impaired, watermark portrait with pixel and highlighted numerals. The reverse side of each banknote features different elements of nature, tradition, culture, flora, fauna and the economy that are distinctively Malaysian. The new banknotes also retain the Bank Negara Malaysia logo, serial numbers, Jawi wordings and songket weave patterns on the reverse side of the banknotes.
