MalaysianUpdates

Category: Business & Finance

  • CGS International spearheaded a market engagement initiative with China’s DeHeng Law Offices and Bursa Malaysia to encourage cross-border listings in Malaysia.

    CGS International spearheaded a market engagement initiative with China’s DeHeng Law Offices and Bursa Malaysia to encourage cross-border listings in Malaysia.

    CGS International Securities Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (CGS MY) recently hosted a strategic market engagement session with DeHeng Law Offices, a leading Beijing-based cross-border law firm, and Bursa Malaysia, reinforcing Malaysia’s position as a regional capital market hub for high-growth Chinese enterprises. The session was designed to facilitate early-stage dialogue with companies from China’s new economy that are exploring regional expansion, while simultaneously creating greater opportunities for ASEAN investors to participate in their growth journeys.

    The engagement focused on enhancing understanding of Malaysia’s capital market framework, issuer readiness, and regulatory expectations, as well as providing clarity on listing pathways available on Bursa Malaysia. By addressing key considerations at an early stage, the initiative aims to support well-governed, future-ready companies in evaluating Malaysia as a viable destination for capital raising and long-term regional growth.

    Alan Inn Wei Loon, Country Head of CGS MY, highlighted CGS International’s unique position as a gateway between China and ASEAN, supported by its shareholders China Galaxy Securities and the China Investment Corporation (CIC). He noted that Malaysia’s deep liquidity pools, diversified asset base, mature capital market infrastructure and strong investor protection framework make it an attractive listing destination. CGS MY, he added, looks forward to working closely with DeHeng to intensify efforts in attracting new economy companies, enhancing their visibility among Malaysian institutional and retail investors, and facilitating cross-border growth between China, Malaysia and the wider ASEAN region.

    Echoing this sentiment, Xu Jianjun, Deputy Director of DeHeng Law Offices, emphasized the firm’s role in preparing Chinese issuers for international capital markets. Beyond regulatory compliance, he said companies must meet growing expectations around governance, sustainability and long-term value creation. Through specialized cross-border legal advisory, DeHeng aims to support market-ready issuers while ensuring mutually beneficial outcomes for both companies and Malaysia’s investment community.

    In his welcome remarks, Julian Mahmud Hashim, Chief Regulatory Officer of Bursa Malaysia, underscored Malaysia’s strengths as a stable base for companies seeking a foothold in Southeast Asia. He noted that Bursa Malaysia offers multiple listing routes for foreign companies and remains committed to supporting early-stage discussions, providing regulatory clarity and helping potential issuers progress confidently from intention to execution.

    The collaboration between CGS MY and DeHeng is focused on connecting future-ready companies from high-potential sectors such as technology, advanced manufacturing, renewable energy and consumer goods with Malaysia’s robust capital-raising ecosystem. By combining CGS MY’s regional connectivity with DeHeng’s cross-border legal expertise, the initiative aims to strengthen market understanding, improve issuer preparedness and support informed decision-making for companies considering Malaysia as their capital market destination.

  • CGS MY Announces the Appointments of Khairi Shahrin Arief Baki as Chief Executive Officer and Alan Inn as Country Head

    CGS MY Announces the Appointments of Khairi Shahrin Arief Baki as Chief Executive Officer and Alan Inn as Country Head

    CGS International Securities Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (“CGS MY”) has entered 2026 with renewed momentum following a leadership transition announced on 25 November 2025. Khairi Shahrin Arief bin Baki has assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO), while Alan Inn Wei Loon has been appointed Country Head. In their respective roles, Khairi will oversee strategic businesses and local operations, while Alan will focus on driving regional and cross-border growth, marking a significant step forward for the firm as it begins the new year.

    Khairi highlighted that Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship and strong growth themes in digital technology, energy transition and healthcare helped CGS MY achieve several milestones in 2025. Looking ahead, he noted that the firm remains committed to facilitating vital partnerships and capital flows to support Malaysia’s ambitions for a high-growth, high-value economy. Leveraging CGS MY’s unique China-ASEAN heritage, the firm is well positioned to support collaborations between Malaysian and Chinese companies across sectors such as renewable energy, artificial intelligence and digital technology, spanning government-to-government, business-to-government and retail engagements.

    In 2025 alone, CGS MY executed eight Memorandums of Understanding with public and private institutions, including collaborations with Bursa Malaysia and Shanghai-based Full goal Asset Management (HK) Ltd to facilitate the listing of foreign-underlying exchange-traded funds. The firm also continued to prioritize financial inclusion, expanding its financial literacy initiatives through innovative approaches such as gamification to better engage youths and first-time investors.

    Under Khairi’s previous role as Co-Deputy CEO, CGS MY strengthened its retail, institutional and private wealth segments through innovative, market-relevant solutions, particularly in Islamic finance and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) offerings. One of the key highlights was the launch of fractional trading on the UP app for Bursa Malaysia’s top 30 companies — a market-first initiative aimed at improving market access and investment literacy among young adults, supported by CGS International’s award-winning research team.

    As CEO, Khairi will continue to drive strategic and operational excellence with a strong emphasis on regulatory stewardship and market expansion. He added that CGS MY is entering 2026 on solid footing, supported by favorable macroeconomic conditions including Malaysia’s low exposure to global tariff risks, stable policy environments and a steady ringgit. Against this backdrop, the firm aims to capitalize quickly on emerging opportunities early in the year.

    Meanwhile, Alan, as Country Head, will lead growth across asset and wealth management, investment banking, private equity and cross-border opportunities. Drawing on his extensive investment banking experience, Alan expressed confidence in positioning Malaysia as a premier investment destination. He noted that Malaysia continues to outperform many ASEAN peers and is well placed to support regional businesses pursuing China Plus One strategies, particularly through cross-border initiatives such as the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zones.

    Looking ahead, CGS MY is targeting RM3 billion in assets under management within three years, driven by growing investor participation in resilient domestic sectors and the implementation of national initiatives such as the National Energy Transition Roadmap and the New Industrial Master Plan. With China continuing to lead in technology and renewable energy sectors, CGS MY aims to connect local partners with opportunities arising from China Belt and Road 2.0 initiatives through its investment banking, asset and wealth management platforms.

  • Kenneth Chan Drives Webull’s Vision to Reshape Malaysia’s Investing Ecosystem

    Kenneth Chan Drives Webull’s Vision to Reshape Malaysia’s Investing Ecosystem

    With 17 years of experience spanning derivatives trading, monetary policy operations and multi-asset market development, Kenneth Chan has developed a deep understanding of Malaysia’s retail investing landscape. His career journey across the banking sector, Bank Negara Malaysia and Bursa Malaysia revealed a recurring challenge: while Malaysians are keen to invest, participation has long been limited by systems that were not designed for everyday investors. Now as CEO of Webull Malaysia, Kenneth is focused on addressing these structural gaps through technology, prioritizing digital access, simple tools, lower entry costs and a secure platform to make investing more inclusive and accessible.

    Kenneth’s vision was strongly shaped during his time at Bursa Malaysia, where he played a role in strengthening market liquidity, expanding algorithmic trading participation and supporting the exchange’s transformation into a digitally enabled, multi-asset marketplace. This exposure highlighted that the main barriers to retail participation were not a lack of interest, but challenges related to access, affordability, knowledge and language. When he took the helm at Webull Malaysia, he saw an opportunity to build investing infrastructure that directly addressed these issues through a strong localization strategy backed by Webull’s global technology.

    Localization became a core pillar of Webull Malaysia’s approach from day one. Bahasa Malaysia support was introduced across the app interface, real-time market data and the Webull Learn education hub to ensure financial knowledge was accessible to a wider audience. The platform was further aligned with local needs through the introduction of Islamic banking options and Shariah-compliant filters for US stocks. At the same time, Kenneth prioritized reducing cost barriers by introducing initiatives such as 0% commission trading for Bursa Malaysia stocks and fractional US share ownership starting from as low as USD1, making market participation less intimidating for first-time investors.

    Beyond technology and product design, Kenneth emphasizes education and engagement as essential drivers of sustainable retail participation. Under his leadership, Webull Malaysia maintains an active presence at Securities Commission Malaysia and Bursa Malaysia initiatives, while also expanding digital education through social media, webinars and bite-sized learning content. Campaigns such as #SamaSamaWebull reflect the platform’s commitment to meeting Malaysians where they are, combining on-ground engagement with digital learning to build confidence and long-term investing habits.

    Looking ahead, Kenneth envisions Webull Malaysia evolving alongside its users by offering tools and products that match different stages of an investor’s journey. From low-risk cash management solutions like Moneybull, to paper trading for beginners and multi-asset access for more experienced investors, the platform is designed to grow with its community. Recent milestones, including recognition as Best Retail Investment App at the PC.com Awards 2025 and the integration of securities and futures trading into a single interface, signal growing trust among Malaysian investors. As regulatory frameworks mature and financial literacy improves, Kenneth believes Malaysia is entering a pivotal phase for retail investing—one where inclusive design, education and technology can empower a more confident and informed investor base.

  • Markets Progress from Recovery Phase to Growth Stage, According to CGS International

    Markets Progress from Recovery Phase to Growth Stage, According to CGS International

    CGS International Securities Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (“CGS MY”), a leading integrated financial services provider, has shared its preliminary market outlook ahead of the release of its annual Navigator Report 2026, providing insights into Malaysia’s economic and capital market prospects for the coming year. The report preview comes at a pivotal time, following Malaysia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN, the upcoming Budget 2026, and the rollout of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP). CGS MY highlighted that ASEAN continues to be a global beacon of stability, with Malaysia playing a central role in the region due to its strategic economic and political positioning. Despite global uncertainties and geopolitical tensions, Malaysia’s domestic markets have remained resilient, with trade volumes and values on Bursa Malaysia largely supported by domestic participation. Following a dip in April 2025, the FBM KLCI and FBM Emas indices rebounded to 1,619.63 and 11,818.32 points respectively, signaling steady investor confidence.

    Khairi Shahrin Arief Baki, Chief Executive Officer-designate of CGS MY, expressed a constructive outlook for 2026, noting that Malaysia’s strategic location, strong domestic focus, and policy support for high-growth, high-value sectors position it as a safe haven amid ongoing US-China and China-Japan trade tensions. With seven more IPO listings in the pipeline for 2025, CGS MY expects Malaysia to maintain its leadership within ASEAN for capital market activity. The recent consultation paper by the Securities Commission Malaysia proposing updates to Main and ACE Market listing requirements is anticipated to further enhance Malaysia’s appeal as a destination for IPOs.

    On the external front, geopolitical trade tensions are easing, with the US revising reciprocal tariffs downward, benefiting Malaysian exports. Over 60% of Malaysia’s exports to the US are projected to be exempt from tariffs, among the highest in ASEAN. Coupled with the US Federal Reserve resuming its rate cut cycle and Bank Negara Malaysia maintaining the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR), a narrowing of interest rate differentials is expected to positively impact the ringgit and the Malaysian stock market. CGS MY underscored that Malaysia’s investment growth is anchored in strong fundamentals, including political stability, fiscal discipline, and sound governance. Through its capital market leadership, the company aims to support these strengths by fostering collaborations across ASEAN and China while promoting sustainability-focused initiatives.

    Domestically, the MADANI government’s economic reforms, including rationalization of subsidies and broadening of the public revenue base, have helped narrow the fiscal deficit from 5.5% of GDP in 2022 to a projected 3.5% in 2026. Strategic initiatives under the MADANI Economy, such as the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) and the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP 2030), have driven investments to record levels, with approved investments hitting RM379 billion in 2024 and maintaining robust growth at RM285 billion for the first nine months of 2025. Looking ahead, the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VMY2026) campaign targets 31 million tourist arrivals and RM147.1 billion in receipts, creating potential investment opportunities in tourism-related sectors including aviation, retail, healthcare, and REITs. With a combination of strong domestic fundamentals, supportive policies, and strategic international positioning, CGS MY believes Malaysia’s markets are well-poised to move from recovery into a sustained growth phase in 2026, offering attractive prospects for investors and capital market participants alike.

  • CGS International Securities Malaysia Announces a Leadership Shift Aimed at Advancing Its Regional Goals

    CGS International Securities Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (CGS MY) has announced a significant leadership transition as part of its strategy to advance its regional ambitions and strengthen its position in Malaysia’s financial landscape. Effective 1 January 2026, current Deputy Chief Executive Officers Khairi Shahrin Arief bin Baki and Alan Inn Wei Loon will assume the roles of CEO and Country Head, respectively, following the retirement of current CEO Azizah Mohd Yatim. Ahead of the transition, Khairi and Alan will serve as CEO-designate and Country Head-designate beginning 1 December 2025 to ensure a smooth handover of responsibilities.

    The announcement comes as CGS MY continues to build momentum under a transformative leadership era. Group CEO of CGS International Securities Pte. Ltd., Carol Fong, expressed deep appreciation for Azizah’s contributions since taking on the CEO role in early 2023. Together with Khairi and Alan, Azizah led the company through a period of remarkable achievements, including maintaining CGS MY’s position as the No. 1 broker on Bursa Malaysia for more than half of 2025, recording over MYR 120 billion in trading value as of October 2025, and introducing several market-first financial products and solutions. Under her stewardship, the company also expanded its service offerings across wealth and asset management, derivatives and Islamic products, investment banking and advisory, and sustainability-focused trading and investment solutions.

    CSG MY — Khairi Shahri

    Fong highlighted that the Group remains committed to its long-term vision of becoming Asia’s global investment house, with a focus on unlocking opportunities across China and ASEAN markets through the support of its shareholder, China Galaxy Securities. She emphasized the Group’s confidence in the Malaysian leadership team as they continue to execute CGS MY’s strategic roadmap under Khairi and Alan’s guidance.

    In her farewell remarks, Azizah described her tenure as a privilege and expressed confidence in the incoming leadership duo, citing their collaborative spirit and strategic capability in driving CGS MY into its next phase of growth. Khairi echoed this optimism, saying he is honored by the trust placed in him and is committed to steering the company through strengthened governance, operational excellence, and regional market leadership. He emphasized leveraging CGS MY’s established market expertise, strong research capabilities, and broad networks—especially in Shariah advisory, asset management, derivatives, and sustainability—as key pillars for accelerated growth.

    CSG MY — Alan Inn

    Alan highlighted the importance of cross-border connectivity in driving Malaysia’s position as a regional financial hub. Over the past two years, CGS MY has enhanced its China-Malaysia and China-ASEAN linkages, enabling deeper collaboration in areas such as mergers and acquisitions, listings, and investment platforms. He affirmed his dedication to further strengthening these strategic ties and positioning Malaysia as a prime destination for business and investment activities in the region.

    The leadership appointments underscore CGS MY’s commitment to reinforcing its governance structure, broadening its service offerings, and supporting its growing investment banking, wealth management, and asset management businesses. As the organization continues to scale its regional presence, CGS MY aims to maintain its leading broker position on Bursa Malaysia while progressing toward its goal of becoming a world-class investment house in Asia.

  • Merchantrade Expands into ATM Services through Visa Partnership and Brown Label Model, Introducing Over 1,000 New Cash Access Points.

    Merchantrade Expands into ATM Services through Visa Partnership and Brown Label Model, Introducing Over 1,000 New Cash Access Points.

    Merchantrade Asia Sdn. Bhd., a leading provider of money services and digital financial solutions, has officially announced its entry into the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) business following regulatory approval to operate as an ATM acquirer. This strategic move marks a significant milestone for the company as it embarks on a mission to enhance financial inclusion by enabling over 1,000 new cash access points across Malaysia. The initiative is powered by Merchantrade’s long-standing partnership with Visa and security services provider Safeguards Corporation.

    The venture is designed to bridge financial accessibility gaps, particularly in rural and underserved areas where conventional banking services remain limited. Through this expansion, millions of individuals — including migrant workers, small traders, and local communities — will gain improved access to essential financial services such as cash withdrawals and deposits.

    Merchantrade’s ATM rollout is built on a two-pronged strategy. The first component involves the Visa Sponsor BIN model, where Merchantrade sponsors more than 1,000 Safeguards-operated ATMs nationwide to accept Visa-enabled cards. This instantly allows Visa customers — including credit, debit, and prepaid cardholders — to perform secure and convenient cash withdrawals.

    The second component introduces the Brown Label ATM Model, a pioneering approach that makes Merchantrade the first operator in Malaysia to adopt such a system. This model leverages Safeguards’ existing ATM infrastructure, including MEPS functionality, and integrates it with Merchantrade’s branding and Visa’s payment platform. Currently, over 12 Merchantrade-branded ATMs have been deployed at its branches, with a target to roll out more than 200 units nationwide.

    Merchantrade’s branded ATMs offer both cash withdrawal and deposit features — a service not commonly available at non-bank ATMs. They accept all Visa-enabled cards, including Merchantrade’s flagship Merchantrade Money prepaid Visa card, providing a practical solution for individuals and businesses that handle frequent cash transactions. These ATMs are strategically placed in accessible locations such as grocery stores, factory compounds, and community hubs to better serve local needs.

    Ramasamy K. Veeran, Founder and Managing Director of Merchantrade Asia, emphasized the broader impact of the rollout, stating, “By embracing this two-pronged strategy, we are not just installing machines; we are expanding the financial landscape. This makes it easier for individuals, like foreign workers and small businesses, to access funds, deposit cash securely, and manage their finances where they live, work, and do business.”

    Visa Malaysia Country Manager, Previn Pillay, echoed this sentiment, highlighting how ATMs remain a vital entry point to financial services. “While digital payments are growing, ATMs often represent a first touchpoint with digital payments for many consumers — particularly in rural and underserved areas. By making cash withdrawals more accessible, we’re supporting financial inclusion and ensuring that everyone has reliable access to their funds on the strength of the Visa network,” he said.

    Darmendran Kunaretnam, Group CEO of Safeguards Corporation, added that the collaboration with Merchantrade is instrumental in reaching underserved communities. “Merchantrade’s strong brand recognition among migrant workers and local communities allows us to extend our presence as a leading non-bank ATM operator.”

    With this bold move, Merchantrade solidifies its position as a key non-bank player in Malaysia’s financial ecosystem — reaffirming its commitment to making cash access, digital payments, and inclusive financial services more readily available to all.

    MerchantradeAsia

    FintechMalaysia

    BrownLabelATM

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