Assalamualaikum and a very good morning. It gives me great pleasure to be with all of you to celebrate the graduation of FSTEP’s Batch 22 participants; the first batch for this year.

And what a difference a year has made. The last time we were here, all FSTEP classes had been held online with the participants only meeting face-to-face for the first time at the graduation. I am pleased to know that for this batch, all classes were held in person.

Every precaution was taken to ensure that they were safe and healthy with masks being worn indoors, classes separated into three groups to reduce the chance of infections and Covid self-tests being done twice a week.

This has enabled FSTEP to be run smoothly and for the participants to be provided a better environment for effective learning through case studies, breakout sessions, dynamic engagement and sharing of experiences by the trainers.

There is no underestimating as well the importance of the lasting friendships and connections that have been made by the participants during their time together in the classroom over these past three months.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

With the increasing need for graduates to be job-ready and highly skilled upon joining the work force, the demands on FSTEP by the financial institutions to fill the training gaps becomes ever more pressing.

It is a responsibility that the team at the Asian Banking School does not take lightly. 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. Not only are the content and subject matter constantly being enhanced but also the teaching methods too.

It is appropriate then that for Batch 22, the curriculum was crafted around the theme of “New Trends in Banking”. Apart from the specialised training sessions on the theme, subjects under the areas of Technical Knowledge, Digital Banking, Leadership and Executive Presence were also covered.

It is also encouraging to note that English for Business has been a must-have subject for each FSTEP intake. With how small the world is getting and how rapidly global business is growing, the need to be proficient in English is important.

According to statistics, around 1.5 billion people speak English today. It is the number one most widely used language in the world and being good at it puts you at an advantage especially if you aspire to thrive on the global stage.

It is my hope then 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.

But as you begin your careers, let this not be the end of your learning. Bestselling author and successful entrepreneur, Thatcher Wine, once wrote, “Learning new skills is one way we can rewrite the story of our lives.” I encourage you all to write a good one.

As Chairman of the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers as well as the ABS, it would be remiss of me to not ask you to consider professional qualifications as part of your pathway in learning and become Chartered Bankers. For those who would like to take that a step even further, there is the Chartered Banker MBA programme, which is a collaboration between the Bangor Business School and ABS, to be considered.

To the 56 graduates of Batch 22, congratulations on your achievements. To have successfully completed FSTEP over an intensive 3 months is a commendable achievement.

As we head towards a post pandemic future and see a more positive outlook for what is ahead of us, it would really seem that the possibilities are endless, and I wish you every success. But I do hope that you will 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 seven sponsoring financial institutions for their support 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 continued belief in the programme 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.