Executive Chairman of KLSE, Dato' Mohd Azlan Hashim said the establishment of the Mesdaq Market at KLSE is a strategic fit in complementing the present strengths of the KLSE Group.
"From today, a single Malaysian exchange is established - providing opportunities for investments in equities from large to mid-size to high growth companies, providing investment opportunities in futures, be it commodities, financial or equity-related, providing investment opportunities in offshore financial instruments.
"Key advantages and benefits of the Mesdaq Market have been maintained. These advantages and benefits are then enhanced to meet the objectives for greater accessibility, greater efficiency, greater investor interest and greater liquidity," he said.
Mohd Azlan was speaking at the launch of the Mesdaq Market at KLSE. Present at the event was the Chairman of Securities Commission (SC) Datuk Ali Abdul Kadir, the Chairman of Association of Stockbroking Companies Malaysia (ASCM) Datin Mariam Yusof and other key industry and market representatives.
Commenting on the Mesdaq Market at KLSE, SC's Chairman Datuk Ali Abdul Kadir said, " The establishment of the Mesdaq Market at KLSE represents a significant step towards not only the creation of a single Malaysian exchange as recommended in the Capital Market Masterplan, but also towards the development of an effective financing base for emerging high growth issuers in Malaysia.
"This is a significant achievement for industry and market participants alike - contributing to streamlining of regulations, expanding the breadth and depth of securities issues and enhancing value recognition for the Malaysian equity market," he said.
Representing stockbroking member companies, ASCM's Chairman Datin Mariam Yusof said, "With the final integration of all trading systems available in the Malaysian capital market, brokers now have access to more than 800 counters - providing the widest stock selection in the history of the Exchange.
"Symbiotically, the five Mesdaq listed companies now have access to more than 7000 remisiers nationwide, heightening awareness of their businesses and operations, which should translate to an increase in liquidity of their shares.
"The Association hopes that this is the debut of more products and services the Exchange will continue to institute, in their effort to evolve Malaysia as the preferred fund raising market," she said.
In his speech, Mohd Azlan said the Mesdaq Market at KLSE will have the opportunity to go even further in achieving effective integration in operational systems and processes, a wider range and more innovative development of securities products and further improvement in the efficiency and cost effectiveness in the capital raising process.
"There will be greater optimisation of exchange resources - both tangible and intangible - with the Mesdaq Market benefiting from the resources of the KLSE Group in finance, networking, staffing, branding and reputation.
"However, we must not forget that the success of the Mesdaq Market at KLSE is the result of coming together as one.
"One system, one trading platform, one network of brokers and dealers, one group of staff of a consolidated exchange - ultimately one exchange," Mohd Azlan added.
He said moving forward as one, issuers need to capitalise on the opportunities of the Mesdaq Market, premised on the resources of the KLSE Group to achieve their full potential, whilst advisers and sponsors need to develop quality issues and promote the securities on the Mesdaq Market. Stockbroking member companies need to capitalise on the benefits of integration to facilitate securities dealing on the Mesdaq Market and investors need to capitalise on the convenience of diversifying their investment on the KLSE Mainboard, Secondboard and the Mesdaq Market.
"Of course, regulators will ensure that regulations continue to strike a balance for a fair, orderly market and an attractive, actively trading market. "Whilst we do not forget the past, it is the future we must plan and work for. For the future, we will move forward together as one - as the Mesdaq Market at KLSE. "Greater teamwork and co-operation, understanding respective responsibility and accountability, focusing on objectives for growth and progress - all these, will shape the equities market at KLSE - whether on the Mainboard, Secondboard or the Mesdaq Market - as a haven, united and strong, for value investing," Mohd Azlan said.
