Malaysia’s reserves remained usable as at end-August 2019, with official reserve assets at US$103.49 billion, in accordance with the International Monetary Fund’s Special Data Dissemination Standard (IMF SDDS) format.

In a statement today, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) said other foreign currency assets amounted to US$62.04 million.

"For the next 12 months, the pre-determined short-term outflows of foreign currency loans, securities and deposits, which include, among others, scheduled repayment of external borrowings by the government and repayment arising from maturity of the foreign currency Bank Negara Interbank Bills, amounted to US$5.72 billion.

"The short forward positions amounted to US$13.67 billion as at end-August 2019, reflecting the management of ringgit liquidity in the money market,” it said.

In line with the practice adopted since April 2006, the data excludes projected foreign currency inflows arising from interest income and the drawdown of project loans amounting to US$2.48 billion in the next 12 months.

The bank said the only contingent short-term net drain on foreign currency assets are government guarantees of foreign currency debt due within one year, amounting to US$336.7 million.

"There are no foreign currency loans with embedded options, no undrawn, unconditional credit lines provided by or to other central banks, international organisations, banks and other financial institutions.

"BNM also does not engage in foreign currency options vis-à-vis the ringgit," it added.

- Bernama