Millennials, Gen Z make up majority of new investors at Bursa Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia has observed a significant increase in the number of new investors aged 35 and below, according to its CEO Datuk Fadil Mohamed. The exchange is recording a larger proportion of young generations entering the capital market, in line with the Capital Market Masterplan 2026-2030. As of now, 58% of newly opened CDS accounts are held by investors aged 35 or younger, up from 39% in 2021, as shared by Fadil during a keynote address at the CGS International ESG and Sustainability Conference 2026.

Bursa Malaysia remains committed to initiatives like the MyBURSA platform, the National Investment Programme (N-I-P), and the Futures Trading Apprenticeship Programme to help Malaysians gain knowledge, tools, and confidence to participate in the market responsibly. Nearly 80% of participants in the N-I-P's first cohort were young Malaysians, reflecting a trend towards greater engagement from this age group.

While financial knowledge has improved, attitudes and behavior have not kept pace, as shown by Bank Negara Malaysia's Financial Capability and Inclusion Demand Side Survey 2024, which reveals that only 28.2% of active Malaysian EPF members met the adequate savings benchmark for their age in 2025. Fadil emphasizes that financial resilience requires more than education, advocating for a shift towards financially empowered Malaysians.