Indeed, apart from the defining characteristic that the internals have full-time executive responsibilities at the Bank, the main distinction to date is that internal members tend to serve for longer; an average of around five and three quarter years, compared with just over three years for the external members. 24  22  Walsh, C. E., 1995, “Optimal contracts for central bankers”, American Economic Review, volume 85, number 1, sets out how a contract between government and the monetary authority can give the latter the incentive to pursue society’s macroeconomic goals in a time-consistent manner. Rogoff’s “conservative central banker” relies on the central bank being more averse to inflation than society as a whole. 23  See Gerlach-Kristen, P., 2003, “Insiders and outsiders at the Bank of England”, Central Banking, volume 24, number 1. 24  To date, the time on the Committee served by externals has ranged from a minimum of 1.4 years to a maximum of 8.9 years. For internals, the corresponding range is from 2.25 years to 11 years. These ranges are calculated by including the  BIS Review 66/2007  5  That seems to me to be consonant with the political economy considerations behind the design of the Committee. The internal members provide a bedrock of accumulated policy expertise and commitment. The externals, coming from outside the Bank and turning over more frequently, keep the debate and the process fresh.
Based on a survey that was conducted, consumer satisfaction towards financial services increased significantly from 61% in 2011 to 73% in 2015. We will continue to invest efforts towards improving the performances in this area. With loans amounting to RM1.5 trillion as at end-November 2016, the banking industry is the main source of funds to households and businesses, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Recognising the pivotal role of the banking sector in our economy, Bank Negara Malaysia will continue to develop the financial sector in a progressive and inclusive manner to ensure that all segments of society can benefit from this financing ecosystem. Financial knowledge among businesses and individuals must be continuously improved While results are promising, our efforts in achieving financial inclusion need to be further intensified. There remain gaps in access to financing for certain segments of society, which require collective efforts from all. The Bank is receptive towards these needs and remain committed to assist the public at all times. Among the issues raised by businesses are the difficulties in obtaining funding to start a business, particularly for SMEs and new companies. The factors cited for this include the absence of collateral, or insufficient track record, especially for businesses involved in new growth areas.