Assalamualaikum and a very good afternoon. It gives me great pleasure to be with all of you to celebrate the graduation of FSTEP’s 2021 participants. Today will be the first time that we are doing a double celebration of 2 graduating batches. Batch 20 was the first this year from May to July and Batch 21 finished the programme today after starting it back in October.

I remember last year when the FSTEP graduation had to be done virtually due to the strict SOP protocols then. Vaccinations had not even started, and we were yet to know the devastating impact that the next wave of Covid-19 would bring this year.

Today, with more than 95% of adults having been vaccinated in this country and most of the economy now opened up, it is truly a blessing that we are able to be here together in person to recognise the success and achievements of the 2021 FSTEP graduates.

For the graduates themselves whose classes have been held online, this would probably be their first time to the AICB Building. So, from building friendships virtually over the course of your three months in FSTEP, I hope you take this opportunity to get to know your fellow batch-mates now that you have met each other face-to-face today. And as you go beyond our doors, I hope that the friendships you have made will continue to grow.

It is also my hope that the knowledge you have gained over your three months at FSTEP will help guide you as you begin your journey in the financial services industry. Having been informed of the curriculum that you have been through, I think that you are already off to a good start.

Ladies and Gentlemen

The FSTEP curriculum is reviewed regularly to ensure that what is taught is a true reflection of the needs of the industry and that the learning is relevant, effective, and timely. It is a task that the team at the Asian Banking School does not take lightly. Not only is the content and subject matter constantly being enhanced but also the teaching methods too.

For Batch 20, the curriculum was crafted around the theme of “Intrapreneurship”. Apart from the specialised training sessions on the theme, subjects like Being Agile, Digital Transformation, Data Analysis and ESG were also introduced for the first time. Together, they lay a foundation for the participants in helping them have an entrepreneurial mindset while working for an organisation. Batch 20 consists of 45 graduates from 5 sponsoring financial institutions.

Meanwhile, Batch 21’s theme was “Sustainable Resilience”. This built on the previous theme’s curriculum with the added reintroduction of the Prominent Leaders Sessions on “ESG and the Impact on Banking” and “Digital Transformation in Banking”. There was a total of 89 participants, which is the largest intake since 2015, from 12 sponsoring financial institutions.

To the 134 graduates of 2021, congratulations on your achievements. To have successfully completed FSTEP over an intensive 3 months and to have done this all online, every day, is truly remarkable. So, it is with hopeful encouragement that I ask that you do not stop your learning journey now.

As we see a more positive outlook for what is ahead of us, it would really seem that the possibilities are endless, and it is up to you to seize the opportunities available to empower yourself with the knowledge that you need to get ahead in life.

As Chairman of the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers as well as the ABS, I have a responsibility also to encourage you to consider professional qualifications as part of your pathway in learning and become Chartered Bankers. Following that, is also the newly launched Chartered Banker MBA programme, which is a collaboration between the Bangor Business School and ABS, to be considered.

Renowned American author, Brian Herbert, once wrote, “The capacity to learn is a gift; The ability to learn is a skill; The willingness to learn is a choice.” I trust that you will make the right one.

In closing, I would like to extend my best wishes to all the graduates today in your future undertakings and hope that you look back fondly to your time here and maintain your ties with us as part of the ever-growing FSTEP and ABS alumni network.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the sponsoring financial institutions for their continued belief in the work that the Asian Banking School does and for paving the way for the participants to join FSTEP. I hope that you will be able to reap the benefits from the achievements of our graduates and the knowledge that they have gained throughout this programme when they are with you.

My deepest thanks to Bank Negara Malaysia for their unwavering support and my heartiest congratulations to the learning partners, faculty and the FSTEP team at the Asian Banking School led by Dr. Vijay for another successful group of FSTEP graduates.

Thank you.