The platform is also expected to help firms, including unlisted small-to-medium enterprises, to disclose environmental, social or governance (ESG) data in line with established global standards, Anwar Ibrahim told an annual investor conference.
"This platform has the potential to be a key enabler to
Malaysia’s pivot to green, and to support our sustainable
development, while creating high-skilled jobs for our progress
towards a high-income nation," Anwar, who is also finance
minister, said at the Invest Malaysia conference on Wednesday.
The announcement comes as Malaysian companies look to
improve their ESG practices, amid new European Union laws on
deforestation and sustainability that could restrict the use of
Malaysian commodities such as palm oil.
Anwar also said a planned capital gains tax on unlisted shares will not apply to listed shares or initial public offerings in Malaysia, in response to investor concerns over the proposal.
Last month, Anwar said the government was considering implementing a capital gains tax "at a low rate" for the disposal of unlisted shares by companies from 2024.
The proposal was among a rash of measures announced in
Malaysia's 2023 budget aimed at expanding the government's
revenue base, though Anwar ruled out implementing a broad-based
goods and services tax.
(Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Editing by Martin Petty, Ed
Davies)
