100 Ringgit

This note bridges one of the most turbulent episodes in Malaysian financial history. The series was issued across the period when Prime Minister Mahathir imposed selective capital controls in September 1998 — a direct response to the regional currency crisis that had seen the ringgit lose roughly half its value against the dollar. While economists at the IMF condemned the move, Malaysia's unorthodox approach to capital management ultimately stabilized the currency without an IMF bailout, making this issue unusual among contemporaries in the region.

The dual signatures reflect the abrupt leadership change at Bank Negara: Ahmad M. Don resigned in August 1998 under pressure, and Zeti Aziz eventually succeeded him, serving as one of the longest-tenured central bank governors in the country's history. The relatively modest print run of just over twelve million pieces suggests controlled issuance during a period of deliberate monetary tightening.