KUCHING: Sarawak has 95 public listed companies in the Malaysian capital market, boasting a collective market capitalisation of RM301 billion.
In stating this, Bursa Malaysia chairman Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar pointed out that in terms of investor engagement, Sarawak recorded nearly 84,000 CDS (Central Depository System) account holders, accounting for 3.6 per cent of the total individual CDS accounts nationwide.
“With a population of over 2.5 million people, Sarawak has great potential to increase the participation of retail investors.
“As such, the event here today is very much in line with our efforts to give awareness to the people of Sarawak about the importance of early investment, and at the same time increase the number of investors from the state to be actively involved in the capital market,” he said.
He said this in his welcoming remarks during the Bursa Marketplace Fair 2024 at Vivacity Megamall here Saturday.
On the event, he emphasised that the it is part of Bursa Malaysia’s ongoing efforts to boost financial literacy and raise public awareness about the diverse investment opportunities available in the capital market.
Additionally, he said, the event was also designed to equip investors with essential knowledge and the right instruments, enabling them to participate confidently in the stock and derivatives markets.
“Financial planning plays a crucial role in safeguarding one’s financial health and overall well-being. This is especially important in avoiding becoming a victim of investment scams,” he said.
He highlighted that from January to September 22, 2024 alone, a total of 4,205 cases of investment fraud have been reported, with losses of almost RM527 million.
Looking at the number of cases, he urged investors to be vigilant and sceptical of offers promising high returns with little to no risk.
“As the English saying goes — ‘If it’s too good to be true, then it probably isn’t true’.
“Knowledgeable investors who stay informed about market trends are better equipped to strategise and plan their investments effectively, potentially achieving their financial goals,” he said.
Meanwhile, addressing a common misconception, Abdul Wahid clarified that investing in Bursa Malaysia is not exclusive to the wealthy.
He pointed out that as a ‘multi-asset exchange’, Bursa Malaysia has introduced several affordable investment products accessible to all adults.
“One such product is the Bursa Gold Dinar, a Shariah-compliant gold trading platform allowing investors to buy and sell physical gold with an investment as low as RM10, all through a mobile application.
“Other than that, Bursa Malaysia in collaboration with TNG Digital Sdn Bhd and Affin Hwang Investment Bank Berhad, has introduced e-Trade in the Touch and Go application, to make investing in the stock market more user-friendly for eWallet users.
“With that, investors can now directly access various products, including stocks and exchange traded funds (ETFs), through the application,” he said.
