Malaysia’s Investor-Literacy Push Targets a Younger, Scam-Exposed Market

Kuala Lumpur, 30 August 2026 – Malaysia’s capital-market authorities are intensifying investor education as younger retail participants enter a financial environment shaped by social media, artificial intelligence and increasingly convincing scams. The first combined InvestSmart and Bursa Marketplace Fair, scheduled for 5 and 6 September at Pavilion Bukit Jalil Exhibition Centre, will bring regulators, market institutions and financial planners together under a single public programme.

The initiative addresses a significant demographic shift. Around 60% of new Central Depository System accounts are being opened by investors aged 35 and below. New account openings increased from 477,000 in 2024 to 522,000 in 2025, while another 337,000 were opened during the first half of 2026. The growth broadens participation in listed markets, but it also increases the importance of financial knowledge among people who may receive much of their investment information through digital channels.