Today marks a culmination of your hard work, perseverance, and dedication, and as we gather here to celebrate the achievements of you bright individuals, we are not only marking the end of your journey here with us but also the beginning of a chapter filled with new possibilities.

Graduates;

As you step into the professional world, remember that the key to staying relevant is continuous learning. The landscape of the financial services industry, and every industry for that matter, is constantly evolving, and those who commit to lifelong learning will not only keep pace with the competition but lead the way. Embrace every opportunity to expand your knowledge and skills, for it is through this dedication that you will avoid being left behind and becoming obsolete and irrelevant.

I ask that you stay curious, seek new knowledge, and be proactive in your professional and personal development. This commitment will not only keep you relevant but also open doors to new opportunities and growth.

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
For FSTEP, it too has had to evolve over time to keep up with the great many changes in the industry. This enables FSTEP, already in its 16th year, to remain at the forefront, bridging critical training gaps and ensuring a pipeline of competent professionals equipped with the right skills and knowledge demanded by the financial sector.

Much of the success has had to do with its relevant and innovative curriculum that is regularly updated with each intake. For this Batch 27, new topics on Future Trends and Digital Transformation in Banking, Blockchain and Digital Assets, and The Holistic Banker were introduced; together with others that included Ethics, Business Writing, ESG, Data Analysis, Cybersecurity, and FinTech.

During their intensive 3-month training, FSTEP participants were also involved in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Project Catalyst which gave them the opportunity to create initiatives with a transformational impact. The projects they chose were significant, ranging from enhancing financial literacy among students in Malaysia, to providing education, resources, and training for first-time caregivers, and raising awareness to the importance of safe e-waste disposal. A lot of hard work was put into these commendable projects, and I encourage everyone today to view the exhibition that the participants have set up outside before you go.

To the 83 graduates of FSTEP Batch 27, congratulations! As you embark on your professional journey, remember the lessons and experiences that you have gained during your time here. You have not only acquired technical skills and knowledge but also developed a deeper understanding of the importance of innovation, collaboration, and social responsibility. Beyond this, I urge you to develop a culture of excellence within yourself, embrace the challenges that lie ahead with enthusiasm and view every obstacle as an opportunity to learn and grow. It is equally important to keep and sustain good values all along your professional journey. Good values such as integrity, accountability, responsibility, respectfulness, humility, kindness, etc.

And before you leave these halls, I would like to take this opportunity as Chairman of the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers as well as the ABS, to ask that you also 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 also the Chartered Banker MBA programme to consider.

My thanks to the 12 sponsoring financial institutions of Batch 27 for their support of the FSTEP programme and the Asian Banking School. I hope that you will reap the benefits of the skills and expertise that the graduates have acquired during their time here.

My sincere gratitude as always to Bank Negara Malaysia and my congratulations to the learning partners, faculty, and FSTEP team at the Asian Banking School under the leadership of Dr. Vijay for yet another successful cohort of FSTEP graduates.

Thank you.