Welcome Remarks at the SC-HK SFC MoU Signing Ceremony

Speaker: Dato’ Mohammad Faiz Azmi, Chairman, Securities Commission Malaysia

Location: Securities Commission Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
Delivered: 23 July 2026

Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Johan Mahmood Merican, Secretary General of Treasury, Ministry of Finance Malaysia,

The Honourable Christopher Hui, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of Hong Kong,

Dr. Kelvin Wong, Chairman, Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong (SFC),

Ms. Julia Leung, Chief Executive Officer, Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong,

Ms. Bonnie Chan, Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX),

Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Abdul Farid Alias, Chairman, Bursa Malaysia,

Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Fad’l Mohamed, Chief Executive Officer, Bursa Malaysia,

Distinguished guests, industry participants, honoured guests from Hong Kong and members of the media.

A very good morning to all of you.

Selamat datang ke Malaysia or Foon Ying Lei Dou Ma Lai.

It is a pleasure to welcome you to the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) for the signing ceremony of this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the SC and the Hong Kong SFC.
I would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the delegation from Hong Kong for making the journey to Kuala Lumpur. This milestone is the result of many months of constructive engagements between the SC and SFC teams. We certainly owe the SFC a great debt of gratitude for agreeing to this partnership. Thank you, Chairman Kelvin and the team.
Both regulatory authorities have enjoyed a long-standing relationship, built on a shared commitment for fair, resilient and internationally competitive capital markets. Over the years, these ties have been strengthened via our cooperation at IOSCO, as well as through regular bilateral engagements and exchange of regulatory expertise. In fact, we currently have a secondee from the SFC here in Malaysia with our IOSCO Hub, based in this building next to the Batik shop, as well as having two members of SFC, attending our annual ASEAN Young Regulators Development programme. I must put on record our thanks to CEO Ms. Julia Leung for spending her afternoon with the students yesterday, which is very much appreciated.
Today's signing is therefore a natural next step in our collaboration.
More importantly, the MoU establishes a practical framework between our jurisdictions to facilitate dual IPO listings both primary and secondary, mutual recognition of investment funds and expanding cross-border investment opportunities as well as regulatory collaboration.
It also offers a potentially extensive range of options for investors in both countries. For a start, the Hong Kong Exchange hosts over 2,900¹ listed companies, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and real estate investment trusts (REITs), while there are more than 1,130² similar offerings in Malaysia. In addition, we hope that market players will leverage this arrangement to introduce more bespoke regionally-focused offerings including ETFs.
Apart from investor diversification and product opportunities, it will also encourage greater foreign portfolio investments (FPIs) between our markets. Other developmental objectives include enhancing issuer access to regional investors and capital and providing participating asset managers greater distribution opportunities.
Ultimately however, success will be measured not only by headline indicators such as market liquidity and connectivity. It will also be the opportunities and benefits created on the ground for businesses, investors and the industry.
For Malaysia, this partnership closely aligns with our regional aspirations of our recently launched Capital Market Masterplan 2026-2030 (CMP). The ambition is to facilitate more cross-border opportunities by strengthening Malaysia’s market connectivity and to attract long term international investors as well as build a more integrated regional investment ecosystem.
Hong Kong is a natural partner in realising this vision. Over the past two years, it has strengthened its position as one of Asia’s leading international financial centres and a key gateway into the region. As a global financial centre, it is currently ranked third in the world³. It is also a well-established fundraising hub with a deep institutional base.
Malaysia, in turn, offers complementary benefits. We are strategically positioned as a gateway to ASEAN, supported by a diverse and well-regulated capital market. As a global leader in Islamic capital market products, we offer a competitive edge in ethical and sustainable investments, making us well-placed to advance the global sustainability agenda.
Together, I believe we can create compelling investment pathways that connect ASEAN, Greater China and the wider Asian region.
I am confident that we are looking at the start of a dynamic and mutually beneficial relationship and connectivity between Hong Kong and Malaysia.
In that spirit, and knowing our guests from Hong Kong can’t resist a good durian, you will be pleased to know that we will have a Durian fest outside the SC lobby this afternoon, to celebrate this momentous occasion.
In closing, I would like to call upon all stakeholders - including regulators, exchanges, intermediaries and investors - to work together to translate these commitments we are putting in today into tangible outcomes that create lasting value for both our markets and economies.
There is a Chinese saying: “May our friendship be like green bamboo - unbroken by wind and rain, evergreen through every season.”
With that, thank you very much for attending - especially those who have come from Hong Kong - and have a great day ahead.

Majority PLCs (2,700+), followed by ETF (246) and REIT (11). As at May 2026. Source: HKEx
PLCs (1,100), ETF (14), REIT (20). As at May 2026. Source: Bursa Malaysia
New York (1st), London (2nd), Hong Kong (3rd). Source: Global Financial Centres Index Report