Malaysia

AML / KYC

Malaysian Consumer Group Seeks Tougher Penalties for Telcos Over Rising Scams

By Nithya Subramanian | 29/10/2025

The Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association is calling on the government to fine telcos up to MYR 50,000 for lax SIM registration procedures.

Crypto / Digital Assets

BNM to Complete Domestic Wholesale CBDC Trial by Year-End

By Nithya Subramanian | 28/10/2025

The initiative, alongside cross-border projects such as Project Dunbar and Project Mandala, aims to strengthen payment systems while deepening DLT and tokenisation.

Sanctions

FinCEN Flags Key Asian Hubs in Iran Sanctions Evasion Analysis

By Manesh Samtani | 28/10/2025

A new FinCEN report details how shell and oil companies in Hong Kong and Singapore facilitated transactions to evade sanctions.

Sanctions

FATF Adopts First Mutual Evaluation Reports Under New Methodology

By Manesh Samtani | 27/10/2025

The FATF also removed four countries from the 'grey list' and adopted new guidance on asset recovery and emerging risks from AI and deepfakes.

ESG / Sustainability

Malaysia’s Islamic Banks to Jointly Deepen Market Collaboration

By Nithya Subramanian | 24/10/2025

The agreements between the banks reinforce regulatory efforts to deepen interbank collaboration and enhance governance within the Islamic financial market.

AML / KYC

BNM Mandates Written Notices for AML-Linked Account Closures

By Nithya Subramanian | 24/10/2025

Banks must issue written notices detailing reasons and appeal rights for accounts flagged under AML and scam suspicions.

ESG / Sustainability

Bursa Malaysia, Malaysia Forest Fund Partner to Develop Carbon Market

By Nithya Subramanian | 22/10/2025

The partnership aims to integrate forest conservation initiatives into the national carbon market framework, paving the way for credible, tradeable carbon instruments.

ESG / Sustainability

Hong Kong, Malaysia Adopt Global Sustainability Ethics Rules

By Manesh Samtani | 21/10/2025

The jurisdictions are implementing IESBA standards for sustainability reporting and assurance, with regulators set to establish formal oversight frameworks for all practitioners.

Bursa Malaysia to Face New Annual SC Fee, Derivatives Levy

By Nithya Subramanian | 20/10/2025

SC Malaysia has introduced a new regulatory fee structure for Bursa Malaysia and approved in principle its proposal to revise selected listing and regulatory-related fees.