Latest news with #MohammadFaizAzmi
The Star
6 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Khazanah supports over 100 Malaysian MTCs through dual-track growth strategy
Khazanah Nasional Bhd managing director Datuk Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir. KUALA LUMPUR: Khazanah Nasional, through Dana Impak, is supporting over 100 Malaysian mid-tier companies (MTCs) through a dual-track approach involving capacity development and growth capital via private credit and equity. The aim is to strengthen capabilities, expand capital access, and drive innovation-led growth as MTCs navigate a fast-changing economic landscape. 'Through Dana Impak, we act as both catalyst and connector – identifying gaps in the ecosystem, deploying patient capital where markets underserve, investing in talent and helping to crowd in private investors, requiring a whole-of-nation approach to foster innovation and fuel long-term growth,' Khazanah managing director Datuk Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir said in a statement. 'Our focus on levelling up Malaysian MTCs represent our Advancing Malaysia strategy to enhance Malaysia's economic competitiveness and resilience. We are pleased to welcome our partners on this journey to unlock the full potential of Malaysian MTCs,' he added. Meanwhile, Securities Commission (SC) executive chairman Datuk Mohammad Faiz Azmi said MTCs in Malaysia act as a crucial growth engine by enhancing industrial output, creating jobs, fostering innovation and contributing a significant 36% to national gross domestic product (GDP). 'Through our 5 Year MSME & MTC Roadmap (2024–2028) the SC plays a central role in supporting MTCs in Malaysia by enhancing their access to funding, market-readiness, and strategic growth opportunities via the capital markets. 'We commend Khazanah's efforts and support of the SC's long-term goal to ensure a more inclusive and holistic capital market fundraising ecosystem,' Mohammad Faiz said. Khazanah's private credit strategy under Dana Impak aims to accelerate the growth of Malaysian MTCs through non-dilutive financing. To support this, Khazanah is partnering with Navis Capital Partners and Granite Asia to offer tailored credit solutions for MTC growth and expansion. Under its private equity strategy, Khazanah aims to help Malaysian MTCs scale, expand regionally, and strengthen operations by partnering with experienced fund managers. To drive this effort, Khazanah is partnering with Creador, a Malaysian PE firm with a strong regional presence and track record in supporting growth-stage companies. Khazanah invites Malaysian MTCs to apply for the next MGIP cohort starting in Q3 2025. Eligible companies shall be Malaysian-owned, privately held, with annual revenue between RM20mil/RM50mil and RM500mil (services/manufacturing), a profitable track record, and a strong innovation mindset. For more information visit:
The Sun
03-08-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Regulators must uphold integrity to grow capital markets says SC
KUALA LUMPUR: Market regulators must operate with integrity and a facilitative approach to drive value creation and expand capital markets, particularly amid evolving challenges, said Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) chairman Datuk Mohammad Faiz Azmi. He emphasised that trust in fair treatment by regulators is essential for maintaining orderly markets. Mohammad Faiz highlighted the need for regulators to balance oversight with market development, avoiding excessive conservatism that stifles innovation. 'Building trust requires strong institutional frameworks. Like regional peers, we have a dual mandate: ensuring fair markets while developing them,' he stated during his keynote at the Malaysian Student Leaders' Summit. He noted the SC's role in expanding Malaysia's capital market from RM600 billion in the 1990s to RM4.1 trillion by 2023. However, he acknowledged setbacks in areas like digital assets and carbon credits, which are yet to mature. 'Our development mandate reassures the market of our growth commitment,' he added. The SC is reviewing strategies to address future challenges, including funding economic growth, inflation-beating returns, and retirement security. Medium-term priorities include climate adaptation financing and strengthening ASEAN ties post-tariff liberalisation. Mohammad Faiz also dismissed the notion that corporate failures always stem from blameworthy actions. 'Business disruptions or poor decisions often lead to downturns. For instance, only five of the original 30 Dow Jones firms from the 1930s survive today,' he concluded. – Bernama
The Star
03-08-2025
- Business
- The Star
Regulatory integrity crucial for Malaysia's future, says SC chairman
KUALA LUMPUR: Regulatory integrity must remain central to the future of Malaysia's capital market, said Securities Commission (SC) chairman Datuk Mohammad Faiz Azmi, as the regulator reviews the market's direction over the next two decades. Speaking at the 19th Malaysian Student Leaders' Summit (MSLS XIX), Mohammad Faiz said a fair and orderly market depends on trust, ethical conduct, and a commitment to the rule of law. 'The phrase regulatory integrity reminds us at the SC that our prime directive, is to ensure a fair and orderly market, to ensure that investors are protected from fraud and criminal actions,' he said. 'To have a fair and orderly market, and for everyone to prosper there must be trust that the regulators treat everyone fairly and that we are also seen to help develop the market and not be so conservative as to hinder development and innovation,' he added. He noted that Malaysia's capital market had grown significantly over the years, from RM600 billion in the 1990s to RM4.1 trillion in 2024, now exceeding total banking assets of RM3.6 trillion. Mohammad Faiz outlined the SC's regulatory approach based on three layers: self-discipline, market discipline, and regulatory discipline. He explained that while corporate decision-making is left to companies and shareholders, the SC acts on serious breaches of the law, including insider trading and market manipulation. 'We do expect people to call out bad behaviour, poor results and poor decisions,' he said. 'We do this by ensuring there is a working ecosystem monitoring what is going on, bodies like the Institutional Investors Council Malaysia (IIC), Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia (ICDM), the Minority Shareholders Watch Group (MSWG) and also having a free press. 'This is important as being stupid is not a crime, but doing things in a 'cin – cai' way that destroys value and causes losses, still needs to be addressed. So, we rely on the market to call out bad or inefficient behaviour,' Mohammad Faiz said. He cautioned against the assumption that all company failures stem from fraud, pointing to examples such as Hoover, Kodak, and BlackBerry. 'It disappeared because of bad decisions and a failure to adapt, not because of fraud,' he said of Hoover. 'Companies generally fail when their business gets disrupted or make bad business decisions.' Mohammad Faiz also emphasised the importance of upholding the rule of law, referencing Clause 39 of the Magna Carta and Malaysia's own legal foundations. 'No one should be above the rule of law,' he said, quoting Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. 'Corruption is a cancer that must be eradicated… Our economic progress must be built on ethical foundations, not cronyism or rent seeking.' On a personal note, Mohammad Faiz urged Malaysian students abroad to return home and contribute to the country's growth. 'By all means, see the world and yes, work abroad if you can. But come home. Come home and help improve the country to be better governed, create a better growth path for the economy and help those who have been left behind,' he said. 'Personally, I have worked abroad, and to me, there is still no place like home.' He ended his address by encouraging young Malaysians interested in finance and governance to consider joining the SC. 'To those of you who want to work in the corporate sector but at the same time, want to do something for our society and country, do come join me at the SC to make a difference.'
Daily Express
02-08-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
300 attend Sabah Malaysia Co-Investment Fund roadshow
Published on: Saturday, August 02, 2025 Published on: Sat, Aug 02, 2025 Text Size: Phoong engaged with SC-registered ECF and P2P platform operators and heard first-hand success stories from companies funded through MyCIF. Kota Kinabalu: The Malaysia Co-Investment Fund (MyCIF) roadshow, to introduce micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Sabah to equity crowdfunding (ECF) and peer-to-peer (P2P) financing as options to support business expansion and working capital needs drew about 300 participants from government agencies, business groups, venture capital, private equity and local MSMEs. The programme was organised by the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) with support from Invest Sabah Berhad and included networking sessions, breakout discussions, and exhibitions by SC-registered ECF and P2P platform operators. Attendees heard directly from companies that had raised funds through MyCIF-supported financing. MyCIF was launched under the Ministry of Finance as part of the 2019 Federal Budget and is managed by the SC. To date, it has co-invested in more than 70,000 fundraising campaigns involving over 9,500 MSMEs nationwide. As of 2024, the fund surpassed RM1 billion in total co-investments, with a 1:4 co-investment ratio under its General Scheme, and 1:2 for targeted schemes such as Food Security and Environmental & Social Impact. SC Chairman Datuk Mohammad Faiz Azmi said the Sabah roadshow was part of MyCIF's broader national outreach to increase awareness of alternative financing among businesses outside the Klang Valley. 'It provides entrepreneurs with practical exposure to how ECF and P2P platforms operate, and how MyCIF participation enhances access to capital,' he said. He emphasised that under Budget 2025, the government has allocated RM40 million to support the continued use of these platforms by MSMEs. Invest Sabah Chief Executive Officer Dr Firdausi Suffian said the collaboration with SC offered an opportunity to connect Sabah businesses with financing channels they may not have previously considered. 'This roadshow enables local entrepreneurs to gain information and contacts that could help support their business growth,' he said. According to SC, MyCIF has helped attract more than RM6 billion in total private and public investments, with private investors contributing 4.1 times the amount co-invested by the fund. The fund is aimed at improving access to non-traditional financing for MSMEs across all sectors in Malaysia. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Sun
29-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Investments crucial in advancing Asean sustainability agenda: SC chairman
KUALA LUMPUR: Investments are crucial in accelerating Asean's sustainability journey, particularly in the development of green industries such as renewable energy, clean technology, and regional carbon markets. To achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, the region will require an estimated US$3.7 trillion to US$6.7 trillion (RM15.6 trillion to RM28.3 trillion) in green investments. Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) chairman Datuk Mohammad Faiz Azmi highlighted that Southeast Asia accounted for only 2% of global clean energy spending in 2023, underscoring the significant gap between current investment levels and the region's long-term sustainability goals. 'Mobilising sufficient financing will be key to managing our transition successfully,' he said at the SIDC–CASI Sustainable and Responsible Investment (SRI) Conference 2025 today. Faiz noted that Asean is poised to be a major contributor to global growth in the medium term, with its share projected to be about 33.7% of global gross domestic product. However, he stressed that sustained resilience is essential amid ongoing geopolitical and economic uncertainties. Elaborating on how the SC and its regional counterparts are working to ensure capital markets support a sustainable Asean, Faiz said it involves promoting the adoption of sustainable financing through the development of taxonomies to identify green activities and projects. 'The Asean Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance serves as a template to assess and classify eligible green activities,' he said. Six key sectors – energy, transport and storage, construction and real estate, agriculture, manufacturing, and water and waste management – which together contribute 85% of the region's greenhouse gas emissions, have been prioritised. 'The technical screening criteria developed for these sectors will help attract sustainable investments and financing,' Faiz said. He emphasised that sustainable growth requires ongoing investment in resources and capacity-building. 'The SC is facilitating the establishment of an association for sustainability practitioners – including preparers, auditors, and other related professionals – to address current and future training needs, develop relevant skills, and set professional standards,' he said. Malaysia's Asean chairmanship includes leading the Asean Capital Markets Forum (ACMF), a regional platform for securities regulators. Underscoring the importance of decarbonisation, Faiz noted that the ACMF recently issued the Asean Transition Finance Guidance to help companies create credible transition plans and secure the necessary financing. 'Carbon markets and mechanisms are taking shape across Asean member countries, and the ACMF is assessing the feasibility of introducing Voluntary Carbon Market Guidelines,' he said. On the challenge of adaptation financing, Faiz pointed out that many adaptation projects – such as seawall construction – lack commercial returns and rely heavily on public funding. 'There could be a role for market-based financing solutions if we can enhance the bankability of these projects.' The SIDC–CASI SRI Conference 2025, jointly organised by the Securities Industry Development Corporation (SIDC) and the Capacity-building Alliance of Sustainable Investment (CASI), opened yesterday with a series of insightful dialogues, strategic partnerships and immersive experiences showcasing sustainable practices in Malaysia. The three-day conference, which began yesterday, has attracted over 300 local and international delegates under the theme 'Shaping the Future of Asean Business in Sustainability'. A key highlight is the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between SIDC and CASI, formalising a long-term collaboration to advance sustainable finance education and talent development across Asean and other developing regions. The MoU outlines a strategic framework for academic and professional cooperation, focusing on joint initiatives that enhance capacity in sustainable finance, particularly within emerging markets. SIDC CEO Tengku Zarina Tengku Chik stated that the ongoing collaboration reflects a shared commitment to developing sustainable finance competencies not only in Malaysia but also across emerging markets in Asia and beyond. CASI chairman Dr Ma Jun said the partnership with SIDC marks a significant step forward in promoting sustainable finance education and talent development across Malaysia and the Asean region. Throughout the conference, participants will delve into critical topics such as ESG disclosures, Islamic SRI, sustainability taxonomies, carbon markets, green skills, and just transition financing, reinforcing Malaysia's leadership in building a vibrant and resilient regional SRI ecosystem.
