Financial Services
Labuan International Business and Financial Centre (“IBFC”)’s First AntiMoney Laundering & Counter Terrorism Financing (“AML/CFT”) Compliance Industry Platform
On 15 August 2023, Labuan IBFC officially launched its first AML/CFT compliance platform with the formation of the Labuan Bank Compliance Officers’ Networking Group (“LBCONG”). LB-CONG will become the dedicated platform for Labuan banking institutions to effectively deliberate on AML/CFT compliance matters and best practices.
The establishment of LB-CONG is the product of a collaboration between Labuan Financial Services Authority (“FSA”) and the Labuan banking sector, represented by the Association of Labuan Banks (“ALB”) and the Labuan Investment Banks Association (“LIBA”). It is envisaged that LB-CONG will be a catalyst for many other partnership opportunities between the Authority and the market in promoting strong AML/CFT compliance culture within Labuan IBFC.
Securities Commission Malaysia (“SC”) Issues Guidelines to Strengthen Technology Risk Management of Capital Market Entities
The SC issued the Guidelines on Technology Risk Management on 1 August 2023. There is no exact date as to when the Guidelines will come into effect, but the SC has announced that it will tentatively be during Q3 2024. The Guidelines will be applicable to all capital market entities licensed, registered, approved, recognised or authorised by the SC.
The Guidelines, formulated pursuant to feedback received from the Public Consultation Paper on The Proposed Regulatory Framework on Technology Risk Management published last year, aims to promote robust and sound technology risk management practices among capital market entities and also sets out the SC’s expectations on capital market entities when they manage their technology risk.
The Guidelines are now available on the SC website here, as well as the FAQ here.
Bank Negara Malaysia (“BNM”) issues a new policy document on Credit Risk
On 31 July 2023, BNM issued a new policy document on Credit Risk, which will come into effect on 1 January 2024.
This policy document seeks to ensure that credit risk management practices of financial institutions remain effective moving forward, amid the increased size and diversity of product offerings by financial institutions, greater internationalisation of the financial system, as well as the growing role of domestic capital markets. Financial institutions are required to implement, at the minimum, the standards set out in the policy document.
The policy document can be found on the BNM website here.
