Malaysia unveils new 50-ringgit banknotes

Malaysia's central bank Friday announced the issuance of a new-design banknote in denomination of 50 ringgit (about 14.7 U.S. dollars the first denomination of the country's Fourth Series of currency notes which will replace its existing series in stages.

The new banknote retains the predominant color of green-blue and the main theme of the design is the country's National Mission2020, the Bank Negara Malaysia said.

The first 50 million pieces of the new banknote features Malaysia's first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj at the historic declaration of Malaya's independence and the logo of the 50th Anniversary of Independence on the reverse side, the bank added.

Currently, there are six denominations of banknotes in circulation in Malaysia -- one ringgit, two ringgit, five ringgit, ten ringgit, 50 ringgit and 100 ringgit.