The objective of the three-day seminar was to create awareness on broad trends driving developments in the capital markets, in particular the challenges and implications for the Malaysian securities markets. The development of the capital market, technological advances and rapid innovation have led to increasingly sophisticated methods of executing securities transactions and a more diverse and complex environment in which capital markets are now operating.

In his opening remarks, Chief Justice Yang Amat Arif Tan Sri Dato' Seri Mohamed Dzaiddin Hj. Abdullah said that although at present there was no formal structure for Judicial training for the Judiciary, he believed that there was a growing need for Judges and judicial officers to keep up to date with what was current and topical.

"This three day seminar will help unravel to us the fundamentals of the capital market in its raw, unabridged form. This will greatly assist us in coming to terms with the highly technical formulations that make up the entire system," he said.

The seminar covered areas such as the regulatory framework of the Malaysian securities market and recent market reforms, the Capital Market Masterplan and its implementation framework, initiatives and recent developments in the area of Corporate Governance, primary market regulation and Mergers and Takeover activities in Malaysia, the Malaysian equity market principal players and operational aspects, the relationship between a stockbroking company and its clients and securities offences in the Malaysian primary and secondary markets.

In facilitating an effective platform for information exchange and sharing for the programme, the SIDC also invited the Securities Futures Commission (SFC) in Hong Kong and the Australian Securities Investment Commission (ASIC) to share their experiences in carrying out their regulatory functions and responsibilities, particularly in the area of regulatory reform and enforcement.

The SIDC is the education, training and information resource center of the Securities Commission. The seminar is part of the SIDC's efforts in updating market participants and investors on developments in the capital market and changes in the securities laws.