"In doing so, it will become clearer that the Malaysian capital market and the Malaysian economy is not only attractive but continually improving to build further resilience, efficiency and competitiveness, where it really matters," he said at the Malaysian Capital Market Summit 2001.
Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Y.A.B. Dato Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad officially opened and delivered a keynote address at the event. The Malaysian Capital Market Summit 2001 is organised by the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute and supported by KLSE.
In his welcome remarks, Mohd Azlan said the effort to develop a market that is more resilient, more efficient and more competitive is tempered by the focus to balance the need for regulation with the requirements of market participants at KLSE.
"In meeting this objective, KLSE has continuously sought to develop and move towards providing effective regulations, and efficient, cost effective infrastructure.
"A key result area, in providing effective regulations and efficient, cost effective infrastructure is evident in the continued confidence in the Malaysian capital market and the KLSE as a mechanism to generate capital," he said.
Mohd Azlan said the rate of growth each year for new listings on the KLSE continue to be positive, with some 513 mainboard companies and 294 second board companies - totalling 807 public listed companies as at today.
"To put this in perspective, the total number of companies listed on Asean exchanges is just over 2,000. This means that more than one third of all listed companies in Asean is listed on the KLSE," he said.
Asean exchanges include exchanges in Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Jakarta, Manila and Singapore.
"Of course with the continued improvement in the overall economy and renewed investor confidence and sentiment, KLSE welcomes and encourages more Malaysian companies to seek a listing on the exchange to broaden further the breadth and depth of the Malaysian capital market.
"This, in turn, will make our markets more attractive for local and foreign investors to participate in," he said.
On the Malaysian Capital Market Summit 2001, Mohd Azlan said participants are looking forward to fresh and insightful perspectives in crystallising ideas and approaches for review, evaluation and where appropriate, to practise and adopt.
"It is also in conferences such as this, that there is greater opportunity to inform, update and share with each other, approaches to anticipate and manage the latest industry developments and challenges," he said.
In closing his welcome remarks, Mohd Azlan said the KLSE Annual Investors' Week will be held at KLSE this week, between 5 to 9 september 2001.
"The objective of this event is to enhance informed investing, based more on fundamentals and less on speculation and market trends.
"KLSE Investors' Week 2001, which is free for everyone, will feature a wide range of talks on informed investing, company briefings by various public listed as well as exhibitions by industry associations and regulators," he said.
Further details on Investors' Week 2001 is available on the KLSE web-site at www.klse.com.my.
