RHB SAKURA MERCHANT BANKERS, FINANCEASIA HOST “ANNUAL CAPITAL MARKETS CONFERENCE”

Measures to boost Malaysia’s capital market

Kuala Lumpur, 25 January 2005 - FinanceAsia in collaboration with lead sponsor, RHB Sakura Merchant Bankers hosted its annual Malaysian Capital Markets Conference today in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia’s Finance Minister II, YB Senator Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop was present to officiate the conference which was attended by more than 500 delegates comprising key executives and managers.

In his opening address, Nick Lord, Editorial Director of FinanceAsia said, “We stand at a pivotal moment to grasp the various opportunities presented by the strengthening of the Malaysian economy post the Asian-financial crisis.”

He hailed the Malaysian government’s move to liberalise the capital markets under the Malaysian Capital Markets MasterPlan presented in Budget 2005 – it sets as the blueprint to help boost market liquidity, enhance the quality of listed companies and increase the profile of the Malaysian market internationally.

The one-day event provided the perfect platform for market participants to reflect on the latest developments in Malaysia’s capital markets, with a special focus on privatization and the equity markets. It saw the gathering of a panel of distinguished speakers including Malaysian corporate leaders such as Dato Sri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib (Executive Chairman, RHB Capital Berhad), Yusli Mohamed Yusoff (CEO, Bursa Malaysia), Helman Sitohang (Managing Director and Regional Head, Credit Suisse First Boston) and Tony Fernandez (Group CEO, AirAsia Berhad).

An institutional investors panel comprising Peter Soo (Managing Director, AIG Global Investment Group, Hong Kong), Abdul Razak Ahmad (Chief Investment Officer, RHB Asset Management) and Danny Quant (Director Investment Consulting South Asia, Watson Wyatt) held a forum to deliberate on issues pertaining to foreign perceptions of Malaysia’s equity markets, increased institutional ownership and competition.

In welcoming the conference participants this morning, Dato Sri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib, Executive Chairman of RHB Group commented that the level of interest from the foreign players has been heartening to regulators – the demand for license to set up shop in Kuala Lumpur is definitely more than supply. But even as Malaysia is wooing the foreign investors to our market, he urged more concentrated efforts to be made to attract the many local retail investors who are still shying away from the market.

He further added, ”We all need to work together to woo back the retail investors, especially when the market has all the right ingredients for their active participation.”