The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC), a statutory body reporting to the Minister of Finance, was established under the Securities Commission Act 1993. It is the sole regulatory agency for the regulation and development of capital markets. The SC has direct responsibility for supervising and monitoring the activities of market institutions, including the exchanges and clearing houses, and regulating all persons licensed under the Capital Markets and Services Act 2007. The SC’s many regulatory functions include:

• Supervising exchanges, clearing houses and central depositories;
• Registering authority for prospectuses of corporations other than unlisted recreational clubs;
• Approving authority for corporate bond issues;
• Regulating all matters relating to securities and futures contracts;
• Regulating the take-over and mergers of companies
• Regulating all matters relating to unit trust schemes;
• Licensing and supervising all licensed persons;
• Encouraging self-regulation; and
• Ensuring proper conduct of market institutions and licensed persons.

Underpinning all these functions is the SC’s ultimate responsibility of protecting the investor. Apart from discharging its regulatory functions, the SC is also obliged by statute to encourage and promote the development of the securities and futures markets in Malaysia including the Islamic capital market (ICM).

Since its inception, the ICM has been an important part of overall agenda of the SC. The SC has undertaken effective steps towards providing the infrastructure for the development of the ICM. The development of the Malaysian ICM was also spearheaded by the establishment of a Shariah Advisory Council (SAC). The SAC was given the mandate to ensure that the implementation of the ICM complied with Shariah principles. Its scope of jurisdiction is to advise the SC on all matters related to the comprehensive development of the ICM and to function as a reference centre for all ICM issues.

Over the years, the SC has built a comprehensive and facilitative framework for Islamic funds, wealth management, as well as other ICM products. In addition, the SC has been driving product innovation in the Islamic equity and sukuk sectors; on top of promoting education training consultancy and research for the ICM. The Malaysian ICM today has the full complement of products, infrastructures, institutions, intermediaries and investors contributing to greater depth and breadth of the entire capital market.

For more information on the Securities Commission, please log on to www.sc.com.my