The Malaysian ringgit (formerly the Malaysian dollar) is the currency of Malaysia. It is divided into 100 sen (cents). The ringgit is issued by the Bank Negara Malaysia.
The word ringgit means "jagged" in Malay and was originally used to refer to the serrated edges of silver Spanish dollars which circulated widely in the area during the 16th and 17th century Portuguese colonial era. The Singapore dollar and the Brunei dollar are also called ringgit in Malay (although currencies such as the U.S. and Australian dollars are dolar), hence its official abbreviation RM for Ringgit Malaysia.
In 2004, Bank Negara issued a new RM10 note with additional security features including the holographic strip previously only seen on the RM50 and RM100 notes. A new RM5 polymer banknote with a distinctive transparent window was also issued. Both new banknotes are almost identical to their original third series designs.
According to Bank Negara, all paper notes will eventually be phased out and replaced by polymer notes.
Obverse: Tuanku Abdul Rahman (the first Supreme Head of State
of the Federation of Malaya)
Reverse: Multimedia Super Corridor, Kuala Lumpur Int'l Airport
and Petronas Twin Towers
Many thanks to Azrul I. H. from Malaysia.
