An outlandish banking merger idea

Fitch Ratings said Maybank's long-term IDRs and viability rating (VR) reflected its dominant franchise in Malaysia and able management team, which help to underpin its stable funding and liquidity position, sound capital buffers and steady earnings performance through business cycles.

HERE lies an outlandish idea: Malaysia should embark on its biggest-ever banking merger to create Asean’s largest bank, nudging out Singapore’s DBS from that position. I’m talking about a mega merger anchored by Maybank to glue together CIMB, RHB, Ambank and Affin Bank.

A laughable, ludicrous and lamentable idea you may say.