Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Ringgit cash test cards introduced by BNM

On 26 Mei 2015, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has introduced a device known as "ringgit cash test card" for the visually impaired for their “OKU Awareness Programme – Towards a More Inclusive Financial System”. The Programme launched by BNM assistant governor Abu Hassan Alshari Yahaya at Lanai Kijang, Kuala Lumpur.

Ringgit cash test

The Programme encourage banks, insurance and takaful companies to map disabled-friendly facilities.

BNM assistant governor Abu Hassan Alshari Yahaya said, "Bank Negara Malaysia, in our modest ways, has taken some efforts towards being more disabled friendly. Our new premises at Lanai and Sasana Kijang and newly renovated Regional Offices, are OKU friendly with ramp passages at major entrances, lifts equipped with braille buttons, OKU toilets at all floors, OKU designated parking lots and wheelchairs made available when requested."

"Our Bank Negara Malaysia's Museum and Art Galley (MAG) provides special services to the OKU. We have four front liners who are trained in basic sign language. By 2016, the numismatic gallery will have a "Touch and Feel" corner, with special exhibits to cater for the visually impaired."

The credit card-sized plastic card with gauges designed to assist the visually impaired in identifying Malaysia banknotes and coins. They contain Braille markings as well as tactile symbols to denote each denomination.

In 2000, Bank Negara Malaysia presented 13,000 units of Ringgit cash test cards to the visually impaired which measured third series banknotes of all denominations. This year, the Bank will distribute 20,000 units of Ringgit cash test cards to the visually impaired.

The Bank has made several improvements to the new cash test card design including to measure the fourth series banknotes and a coin channel to measure third series coins after obtaining feedback from the National Council for the Blind, the Malaysian Association for the Blind and Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat.