1 Ringgit

This is the final 1 Ringgit paper note issued by Bank Negara Malaysia before the denomination was retired from paper altogether — no replacement note followed, and the coin took over permanently. The Ali Abu Hassan signature variant was prepared but never released, leaving Zeti Akhtar Aziz's name on all circulated examples. Zeti had just assumed the governorship under extraordinary pressure: Malaysia was still managing the aftermath of the 1997–98 Asian financial crisis and the controversial ringgit peg to the US dollar imposed by Mahathir in September 1998.

The two-letter serial prefix distinguishes Zeti's issues from earlier printings in the series.