Malaysia’s Stock Market Remains Competitive, Resilient Amid Global Headwinds -- Akmal Nasrullah

KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s stock market remains resilient and competitive amid global supply chain and geopolitical headwinds, said Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.

He said confidence in the local capital market is evident through at least 30 new listings or initial public offerings for 2026.

“Despite facing challenges, we know that the stock market still has potential, as there is still interest, and investors are still looking for opportunities in our country,” he said at a bumiputera company networking session organised by the Bumiputera Agenda Steering Unit (TERAJU) today.

Akmal Nasrullah said one bumiputera company is expected to be listed on the stock market next week.

TERAJU, an agency under the Ministry of Economy, is targeting 10 bumiputera companies to 20 bumiputera companies to be listed on Bursa Malaysia by 2030 through continuous support and empowerment, he said.

He said the target aligns with the government's efforts to strengthen the participation of bumiputera companies in the capital market and increase their competitiveness at a higher level.

The minister said TERAJU, through the Accelerate programme, will play a more targeted role in guiding the companies involved, including funding, governance, and business strategy.

“When a company reaches a certain level, a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach is no longer sufficient. We need to take the targeted approach, matching the needs and potential of the company, including in terms of funding and growth support,” he said.

He said the effort is in line with PuTERA35's aspirations, which not only focus on ownership but also strengthen the market dominance and competitiveness of bumiputera companies at the regional and international levels.

Meanwhile, in a statement, Akmal said that out of 97 new listings in the past three years, only one was bumiputera-majority-owned, while only about seven per cent of companies listed on Bursa Malaysia are bumiputera.

This indicates the need for a more structured and strategic approach to expand bumiputera companies’ participation in the country’s capital market ecosystem, he said. 

Meanwhile, TERAJU chief executive officer Junady Nawawi said the agency’s programme achievements in 2025 proved that the foundation for the development of the bumiputera ecosystem is getting stronger.

“TERAJU's mandate is clear, which is to build a sustainable, inclusive and competitive bumiputera development ecosystem. This 2025 achievement forms a solid foundation for efforts to empower bumiputera value creation.

“Four new programmes launched this year will help bumiputera companies move to the next level, including public listing and expansion into regional markets,” he added. 

-- BERNAMA