News and Articles

How to Choose the Right AML/CFT Solution: Essential Factors Professional Firms Cannot Ignore

Choosing an Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) solution is no longer purely an operations or IT decision. It is a frontline risk decision that determines how effectively your firm detects, documents, and defends against financial crime exposure. For...

From Administrative Gatekeepers to Governance Leaders: Elevating AML/CFT/CPF Compliance for Malaysia’s Company Secretaries

Executive Summary The Mutual Evaluation Report (MER) of Malaysia 2025, published by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in December 2025, assesses the effectiveness of the country’s anti-money laundering, countering the financing of terrorism, and countering the financing of proliferation...

Data and Compliance Report (DCR) 2026 Information & Submission in Malaysia

Data and Compliance Report (DCR) is an annual submission to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) by reporting institutions (RI) to report and self-assess their compliance with AMLA, Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Countering Financing of Terrorism (CFT), Countering Proliferation Financing (CPF), and Targeted...

AML/CFT Case Study: Money Laundering Through Gold Bars and Trade – Vulnerabilities and Risk Mitigation for DNFBPs

In a recent landmark case, Singapore authorities sentenced South Korean national Kim Taek Hoon to 5 years’ imprisonment for orchestrating a sophisticated money laundering operation involving over SG$1.55 billion (approximately USD1.15 billion) in illicit funds. Between 2014 and 2017, Kim...

Understanding Trade-Based Money Laundering (TBML): Techniques, Case Study, Red Flags and Best Practices for Risk Mitigation

Trade-Based Money Laundering (TBML) is one of the most prevalent money laundering methods encountered by professional firms in the Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBP) sectors. This method primarily involves exploiting the vast volume of global trade and the complexities...

AML/CFT Regulations in Malaysia: Unpacking the Differences Between BNM and SSM Regulations

Both the Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) play pivotal roles in Malaysia’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) efforts. While they share the common goal of combating financial crimes, their regulatory frameworks differ....