I refer to the letter Southern Bank: Bride was forced and have an axe to grind with Bank Negara.

Generally, I have high esteem for the professionalism of Bank Negara but I have a political issue that they must answer to evince their economic independence (if any) and demonstrate their responsibility to the rakyat. Over the years of the Mahathir administration and before, the ringgit's value dropped from being on par with the Singapore dollar to its present value today where it is worth less than half of our southern neighbour's currency.

Pray explain Bank Negara, why you have allowed inflation to creep into the Malaysian economy? If it is a case of the federal government - read politicians with vested interests - interfering then say it like it is or my respect for you is diminished.

Bank Negara has sold out the rakyat in deference to the highly questionable and economically wrong policies of the past administrations. No doubt Bank Negara has done much to shore up some of our financial institutions but I ask: Isn't the defence and maintenance of our currency one of the, if not the prime responsibility, of a central bank?

Notwithstanding the financial crisis of 1997, the fact remains that we have not maintained our currency's value and we have all therefore been impoverished by this simple negligent act. Malaysia is a rich country. The inflationary situation could have been avoided. The maintenance of our reserves could have been strengthened not squandered. All these ought not to have happened.

Bank Negara, please explain yourself in these matters of interests to the rakyat.