KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz will be clocking out for the last time tonight after serving the country for 16 years as Bank Negara Malaysia governor and 35 years in the service of the central bank.
Clad in her now well-known blue baju kurung at about 7.40pm, she said her goodbyes to a handful of reporters who had waited since morning to catch a glimpse of the renowned governor.
Known for being an exemplary leader with a steely determination and sound stance, Zeti was all smiles when she came down for a while before going up again to finish her packing and other final matters.
Asked on how she felt, Zeti said, "I am very focused. I just do whatever I have to do but unfortunately, I don't have the time to meet all my staff and salam each one of them to thank them for all the support they had given me."
Zeti is the seventh governor of Malaysia’s central bank and the first woman appointed to the post, taking over from Tan Sri Ali Abul Hassan Sulaiman in May 2000.
Datuk Muhammad Ibrahim has been named as Zeti's successor for a five-year term beginnning May 1.