Chances are, you’ve tried using Google to check what is the US$ to RM exchange rate is like more than once in recent times. But if you’ve made the attempt this morning, you may have been surprised to find out that the usual currency converter box does not appear. Instead, you’ve probably been given an answer box quoting the exchange rates of third-party sites that offer such services,such as Xe, Wise, Revolut and Forbes.
From limited testing, it looks like this applies to any exchange involving the RM. For exchanges for just about any other currency pair, you get the familiar currency converter box at the top of search results. This can then be used as a workaround to get the box to work for exchanges involving the RM – just insert one of the currencies you’re trying to convert and another random currency in your search. Then when the currency converter box shows up, replace the random one with the RM.
While it’s unclear for now what led to the removal of the currency converter box, it may have something to do with what happened over the past weekend. On 15 March, the same currency converter box showed what Bank Negara Malaysia says a day later is an inaccurate exchange rate between US$ and RM. Responding to this, Google Malaysia says that it has gotten the third-party that provided the incorrect rate, with the issue now resolved.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We immediately contacted the third party that provides USD-MYR exchange rate information to correct the error. The issue has now been resolved and we apologize for any confusion caused.
— Google Malaysia (@GoogleMsia) March 18, 2024
For what it’s worth, the company does mention that it provides currency exchange rates “for informational purposes only”. It says that, for financial decisions, official sources like the national bank’s own website should be the go-to instead. As for the removal of the currency converter box involving the RM today, we’ve reached out to the company, and will let you know when we hear more.
(Source: BNM, Google Malaysia)
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