Securities Commission Malaysia and Bursa Malaysia have launched their inaugural joint InvestSmart and Bursa Marketplace Fair, combining their flagship investor engagement platforms to help Malaysians assess investment opportunities, understand risks and identify scams. The two-day event brings together regulators, market experts, financial institutions, listed companies and crowdfunding platforms, with dedicated support on financial planning, investment verification and fraud prevention. The initiative comes as retail participation continues to grow, particularly among younger investors. More than 342,000 new Central Depository System accounts were opened in the first half of 2026, up about 24% from the same period in 2025, with investors aged 35 and under accounting for around 60% of new accounts. From January through July 2026, the commission received 1,272 inquiries from people seeking to verify investment opportunities before investing, compared with 530 complaints from scam victims.