KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s enhanced anti-money laundering (AML) framework is expected to strengthen investor confidence and reinforce the integrity of its financial system, following the country’s latest assessment by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) Governor Datuk Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour said the FATF Mutual Evaluation 2025 marks a major milestone in Malaysia’s decade-long effort to build a more resilient and transparent framework against financial crimes.
He said the progress reflects years of cooperation between ministries, enforcement agencies and the private sector under the National Coordination Committee to Counter Money Laundering (NCC).
“Since the last Mutual Evaluation in 2015, our decade-long efforts to enhance our legal framework, supervisory approaches, understanding of risks and financial intelligence have culminated in a stronger anti-money laundering, countering the financing of terrorism and counter-proliferation financing (AML/CFT/CPF) regime for the country,” he said at the 15th International Conference on Financial Crime and Terrorism Financing (IFCTF) 2025 here yesterday.
Abdul Rasheed said recent amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing, Anti-Restricted Activity Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLA) — gazetted in May 2025 — represent another major reform that enhances supervision, regulation and enforcement.
He said Malaysia’s completion of several thematic reviews and risk assessments, including the National Risk Assessment, has also deepened understanding of illicit financial activities and systemic risks, paving the way for more targeted policies.
“These efforts will enable us to undertake more focused policy formulation, supervisory measures and enforcement actions,” he added.
Abdul Rasheed said the country’s achievements also complement regional cooperation under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship, which saw the launch of the ASEAN Plan of Action on Combatting Transnational Crime (2025–2036) and ASEAN’s first Declaration on Combatting Money Laundering during the 47th ASEAN Summit.
He said the milestone evaluation reaffirms Malaysia’s position as a credible financial centre committed to transparency and accountability.
“Our progress has been made possible by tireless collaboration across all sectors. Together, we have built a more secure and trusted financial system for Malaysia and for the region,” he said.
