With the improved access of consumers and businesses to financial products and services, consumer education on financial matters is an important priority for the Central Bank. Consistent with the belief of the importance of instilling financial awareness at an early age, Bank Negara Malaysia introduced a pocket money book to inculcate smart financial management habits  4  BIS Review 64/2004  among students in 1996. The programme also included Household Account Books to assist families in the management of household income, savings and investments. This was distributed to cover a wider group, including women, teachers and workers. Following this, in 1997 together with the Education Ministry, the Central Bank embarked on a School Adoption Programme. Through this programme, more than 7000 schools have been adopted by banking institutions to play a leading role in educating school children on basic financial knowledge. In October this year, an online interactive version of the Pocket Money Book to be used in the School Adoption Programme was launched. The Central Bank of Malaysia has also laid out a blueprint known as the Financial Sector Master Plan that charts the development of the Malaysian financial system over a ten year period commencing in 2001. A key component of that plan is the 10-year Consumer Education Programme for the banking and insurance sectors. This programme is known as BankingInfo and InsuranceInfo, and was launched in 2003.
Also important are the requirements for complaints to be handled promptly by financial institutions. Ladies and Gentlemen, The Malaysian experience Let me briefly take a moment to share with you the experience of Malaysia in developing an enabling environment to promote financial literacy. For several decades, Malaysia has made significant economic progress. The economy grew by an average of 7% per year, while the per capita income has increased from USD 300 in 1970 to USD 4,236 in 2004. From a commodity-based economy, Malaysia now has a highly diversified economy, with significant contribution from the manufacturing and services sectors. Women account for about half of Malaysian population, and have played an important role in this economic transformation process. Women account for about 45% of the labour force, with increasing representation at the professional, managerial and technical levels. Such progress is achieved following increased educational opportunities that have been made available to women. Female primary and secondary students account for half of total enrolment, while at public universities, female students account for 55% of total enrolment. While women continue to play a major role in household financial planning, a new generation of women who are financially independent and sophisticated is emerging. The financial sector in Malaysia has also experienced significant progress, with greater diversity of players, products as well as delivery channels with extensive distribution nationwide. The widespread distribution of financial institutions has been a conscious and deliberate policy to ensure the widest reach of financial services to both the urban and rural areas.