This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly, on March 21 - 27, 2016.

DATUK SERI ABDUL WAHID OMAR
AGE: 52

Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar is no stranger to the business community and the corporate world. An accountant by training, he is often described as a people person by his colleagues and employees. Wahid worked his way up the rungs in the corporate world, starting as an audit assistant in one of the Big Four accounting firms in his early twenties.

He is minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of the Economic Planning Unit, a position he has held since the 2013 general election.

Before that, he was with the country’s largest bank, Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank), from 2008 to 2013 as president and CEO. He also served as CEO at Telekom Malaysia Bhd (2004 to 2008) and UEM Bhd (2001 to 2004).

Wahid’s move to the EPU came as abruptly as his move to Maybank from Telekom Malaysia. The top seat in Maybank was left vacant for three months as the banking group deliberated on its next candidate while Wahid stepped into his new role at the EPU.

Notable achievements Wahid is known for include navigating Maybank through choppy waters at a time when the bank was mired in impairment issues as a result of its acquisition of Bank Internasional Indonesia from Singapore’s Temasek Holdings.

People who have worked closely with him describe him as a hardworking and hands-on CEO whose pleasant personality does not get in the way of him making tough calls.

Some opine that given his track record in the banking scene, he would be able to command the respect of bankers, which should give him an edge as the next governor.

DATUK MUHAMMAD IBRAHIM
AGE: 56

Datuk Muhammad Ibrahim is the only internal candidate from Bank Negara in the running.

An accounting graduate from Universiti Malaya, he holds a postgraduate degree from Harvard University.

One of the three Bank Negara deputy governors since 2010, Muhammad has been with the central bank since 1984, making him the most senior among them.

People close to him describe him as a fast learner and a very confident man, but not as eloquent a speaker nor as diplomatic as outgoing governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz, a skill many say is necessary to helm the central bank.

Muhammad has served in the areas from banking supervision and regulation to insurance and offshore banking. Now, he oversees international reserve management and money market and foreign exchange operations.

Before joining Bank Negara, Muhammad served as managing director of Danamodal Nasional Bhd, a bank recapitalisation agency created during the Asian financial crisis. He is also a former commissioner of the Securities Commission of Malaysia.

Currently, he is also the chairman of the audit committee at Petroliam Nasional Bhd and is also in the governance and risk committee board of the national oil corporation.

DATUK DR AWANG ADEK HUSSIN
AGE: 61

Kelantan-born Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin holds a degree in mathematics and economics from Drew University in the US and has a master’s degree and a doctorate from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. The Ivy League university is also the alma mater of outgoing Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz.

Awang Adek served in the central bank for close to a decade from 1985 before moving to politics in 2011. His last posting at the bank was as assistant governor between 1996 and 2001.

In 2004, he contested and won the Bachok parliamentary seat in Kelantan, and was appointed deputy rural and regional development minister. In 2006, he was appointed deputy finance minister, a post he held until 2013.

In the 2008 general election, Awang Adek lost and was made a senator and appointed ambassador to the US in 2014, succeeding Othman Hashim.

People close to him say he could fit right back into the central bank given his previous service there. He is described as versatile, but his career in politics may not go down well with many. However, that may enable him to handle politicians as well as command the respect of corporate bankers.

However, sources say he is not interested in being the next central bank governor but will accept the appointment if the prime minister wants him to.

TAN SRI MOHD IRWAN SERIGAR ABDULLAH
AGE: 56

Tan Sri Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah, the current secretary-general of the Ministry of Finance, has his fair share of fans and detractors. As the one with the least experience in banking matters compared with the others, that makes him the dark horse.

Irwan, who sits on the board of advisers of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), is perhaps the most controversial candidate among those shortlisted. To recap, Bank Negara has been investigating 1MDB for breaches under the Exchange Control Act 1953.

However, sources say he is not keen to be the next central bank governor.

He holds a PhD in economics from the International Islamic University Malaysia and a Master of Science in Energy Management and Policy from the University of Pennsylvania.

Irwan has always been in the civil service. He joined the Economic Planning Unit in 1984 before moving to the Ministry of Finance in 2003, where he held various positions, including principal assistant secretary in the Economics and International Division, head of Econometrics Section and head of Multilateral Relations.

He also sits on the board of many government-related entities, including the Federal Land Development Authority, Petronas, Mass Rapid Transit Corp Sdn Bhd and Lembaga Tabung Haji. 

Save by subscribing to us for your print and/or digital copy.

P/S: The Edge is also available on Apple's AppStore and Androids' Google Play.