Google has reinstated its currency converter widget on the search page for users in Malaysia, more than a year after it was disabled due to inaccurate exchange rate reporting.
The feature allows users to conveniently check real-time currency conversions directly through Google Search, eliminating the need to rely on third-party platforms.
In March last year, a screenshot showing an exchange rate of US$1 to RM4.98 went viral on social media, with users alleging that the rate result was published by Google.
Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) then issued a statement on March 16 dissmissing the ringgit exchange rate displayed on the search engine: "This is an inaccurate information that does not reflect the actual trading."
The central bank added that the incident was the second time that Google had published inaccurate US$ to RM exchange rate data in 2024. It had issued a warning letter to Google when the first incident occured in February.
Then on March 22, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said Google informed him of the company's decision to temporarily disable the currency converter widget to prevent future errors in displaying the ringgit exchange rates.
He later shared that the decision was made by Google after discussions with BNM.
