Welcome to Carver's ASEAN Regulatory Updates for March 15, 2026.

In Malaysia, the Securities Commission Malaysia has unveiled the Capital Market Masterplan 2026 to 2030. This masterplan focuses on enhancing market vibrancy, inclusivity, sustainability, and leveraging Malaysia’s strengths in Islamic finance to seize regional opportunities. The plan sets ambitious growth targets and strategic initiatives aimed at boosting market valuations and trading activity, broadening access to capital market products for equitable wealth creation, and mobilising financing to support climate and sustainability goals. Market participants will need to adapt to these new regulatory and market practices to support Malaysia’s national economic transformation.

Also in Malaysia, the Securities Commission Malaysia and the Companies Commission of Malaysia, known as SSM, have signed a two-year Memorandum of Understanding to enhance data-sharing. This collaboration aims to better identify micro, small, and medium enterprises, or MSMEs, and medium-term companies with growth potential and financing needs. It will also improve enforcement outcomes and support sustainability disclosures. The partnership includes joint monitoring to prevent financial scams, leveraging financial data to track sustainability reporting adoption, and conducting joint knowledge sharing and training on data analytics, sustainability reporting, market insights, and strategic communication.

The Securities Commission Malaysia has also charged the former Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Sarawak Consolidated Industries Berhad for furnishing false financial statements to Bursa Malaysia. Legal proceedings have been initiated, including bail conditions and an arrest warrant issued for the former chairman. This enforcement action underscores the regulator’s commitment to maintaining trust and confidence in the capital markets by penalizing false disclosures and ensuring compliance with the Capital Markets and Services Act 2007.

Turning to Singapore, enforcement actions were taken against a licensed fund management company and its officers for suspected money laundering and failure to comply with obligations as a licensed capital markets services licence holder under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2022. This highlights the regulatory scrutiny and enforcement risks related to anti-money laundering compliance in licensed capital markets entities. Licensed firms must maintain strict compliance with anti-money laundering requirements under MAS regulations.

Singapore is also conducting a public consultation on proposed areas of review for the Building (Strata Management) Act. The proposals include measures to help Management Corporations Strata Title, or MCSTs, maintain adequate funds, lower resolution thresholds for essential upgrades, improve estate management capabilities, and clarify existing provisions. The update affects strata property stakeholders including MCSTs, subsidiary proprietors, and managing agents. Key requirements include regular review of supporting documents for essential facility upgrades, annual submission of financial and essential facility information to the Building and Construction Authority, and consideration of establishing minimum sinking fund percentages or ring-fenced funds.

In the Philippines, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has set new interest rates for its Discount Window Facility effective March 10, 2026. The interest rate for loan maturities of one to ninety days is set at 5.3427 percent, while the rate for ninety-one to one hundred eighty days is 5.4354 percent. Banks are required to apply these new rates for peso availments starting March 10, 2026, and monitor the BSP Overnight Lending rate and BSP-determined spreads for future adjustments.

In Indonesia, the Indonesia Deposit Insurance Corporation, known as LPS, has revoked the license of BPR Koperindo effective March 9, 2026. This revocation triggers LPS to manage deposit guarantee payments and oversee the bank’s liquidation process, with a reconciliation and verification period extending until July 29, 2026. LPS must complete reconciliation and verification of deposit data within 90 working days. Payments to depositors will be made in stages during this period, and depositors must meet LPS’s 3T conditions to be eligible for deposit guarantees. Additionally, LPS has announced payment disbursements following the determination of deposit insurance status for depositors of Perumda BPR Bank Cirebon, which is under liquidation. Stakeholders are advised to ensure timely payments and maintain transparent communication regarding payment status and liquidation processes.

Furthermore, LPS has renewed and extended its cooperation agreement with the National Cyber and Crypto Agency of Indonesia, known as BSSN. This Memorandum of Understanding focuses on strengthening cyber security measures and protecting critical financial systems, including the new core system for the Program Penjaminan Polis. The collaboration aims to enhance cyber security architecture, incident monitoring, and response mechanisms, utilizing electronic certificates and encryption services to safeguard Indonesia’s financial infrastructure.

Lastly, in Malaysia, the Securities Commission Malaysia issued a policy document on March 12, 2026, outlining technology requirements for payment services regulatees. The policy introduces proportionate regulations based on tiering, elevates resilience and cyber security requirements, strengthens fraud detection and monitoring, and facilitates secure technology adoption. These measures aim to enhance system stability, security, and customer protection in the payment services sector, addressing evolving technology risks and innovations.

That wraps up today's regulatory updates. Visit carveragents.ai for more information.