KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 7): The capital market needs more younger generation participation to ensure the vibrancy of the stock market in the future, said Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Awang Adek Hussin.
He said only 7% of investors in the stock market are under the age of 45, and there are even fewer investors between the ages of 20 and 30.
“Most of the remisiers within the stockbroking industry are 50 years old and above. One worries about its future if young people are not attracted to the industry,” said Awang Adek in his opening remarks at the commencement of the InvestED Leadership Programme at Asia School of Business.
The InvestED programme was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim June 19 as an initiative aimed at enhancing graduate employability and ensuring a sustainable talent pipeline to help ease the shortage of skilled talent in the capital market.
The programme is a one-month learning module which was designed in collaboration with Asia School of Business.
Some 200 fresh graduates will undergo the programme.
As additional efforts to engage collaboration between universities and the capital market industry, Awang Adek announced on behalf of the Association of Stockbroking Companies that stockbroking companies have agreed to introduce an adoption scheme.
“Each company adopts a university, to plan and work with students and lecturers to promote greater understanding and appreciation of the capital market,” he said.
He further said these efforts will enrich students' learning experience and expose them early to the workings of the capital market while enhancing their employability and reducing their vulnerabilities to financial scams.