Kuala lumpur: The Securities Commission (SC) and Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd (Bursa Malaysia) today announced proposed enhancements to the LEAP Market. Dubbed LEAP Market 2.0, the initiative is designed to expand fundraising opportunities for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), aiming to bolster their growth within Malaysia's capital market ecosystem. According to BERNAMA News Agency, the proposed enhancements seek to strengthen the platform's value proposition, enabling more seamless fundraising for smaller businesses and mid-tier companies (MTCs) as they transition from private to public markets. This initiative aligns with the objectives outlined in the SC's Capital Market Masterplan 2026-2030 (CMP) and supports the SC's Catalysing MSME and MTC Access to the Capital Market: Five-Year Roadmap (2024-2028). Additionally, it complements the national development agenda for MSMEs and MTCs. SC chairman Datuk Mohammad Faiz Azmi highlighted the significance of this initiative, describing it as a major step towards creating a more inclusive capital market for MSMEs and MTCs under the CMP. He emphasized that the move reinforces the funding escalator by reducing costs and improving access to growth capital within a more facilitative regulatory environment. To date, one equity crowdfunding (ECF) issuer has transitioned to the LEAP Market, and 10 LEAP Market-listed companies have migrated to the ACE Market, showcasing the potential for a robust pipeline of companies advancing through the capital market. With 8,500 MTCs identified as potential candidates for capital market fundraising, Mohammad Faiz noted that the proposal would facilitate a more visible and smoother listing pathway for MTCs and MSMEs. The proposed enhancements under LEAP Market 2.0 include alternative fundraising pathways for companies backed by ECF, venture capital (VC), and private equity (PE); simplified disclosure requirements; broader investor participation; share-based payments to advisers; and a seamless transition from the LEAP Market to the ACE Market. Bursa Malaysia's chief executive officer, Datuk Fad'l Mohamed, stated that the proposed enhancements build on the LEAP Market's role as an established entry point into the public market for MSMEs and MTCs. He explained that these enhancements offer greater flexibility in admission pathways, streamlined disclosures, and expanded investor participation. Collectively, these measures aim to support MSMEs and MTCs in their participation and growth through the capital market while strengthening capital formation, market depth, transparency, and maintaining appropriate standards of investor protection for a qualified market. Bursa Malaysia has also issued a public consultation paper to gather public feedback on the proposed enhancements under LEAP Market 2.0. The public is encouraged to share their views and feedback on the proposed amendments to the LEAP Market and ACE Market Listing Requirements via the following link: https://www.bursamalaysia.com/regulation/public_consultation. The public co nsultation is set to close on June 15, 2026. The LEAP Market 2.0 announcement was initially made by Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan in March 2026.