Kuala lumpur: The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) today released its revised Equity Guidelines and Response Paper, introducing targeted enhancements to the primary market framework.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the initiative aims to improve access to public listings for issuers and clarify the roles while strengthening the differentiation between each market segment, particularly the Main Market and ACE Market.

Key enhancements for the MAIN Market include higher profit requirements, stronger financial reporting quality, greater flexibility in operating cash flow assessment, and broader eligibility for infrastructure-type listings.

The ACE Market enhancements include reinforcing it as a sponsor-driven market, with a minimum two-year post-listing track record before transfer to the MAIN Market, removal of exemptions on sponsorship and moratorium, and the introduction of minimum public share allocation requirements.

SC chairman Datuk Mohammad Faiz Azmi stated that the enhancements reflect the SC's continuous commitment to regulation that is fit-for-purpose-balanced, facilitative, and responsive-to evolving business models. "This initiative supports the SC's wider effort to enhance regulatory efficiency and governance excellence as outlined in the Capital Market Masterplan 2026-2030. In essence, the clearer segmentation strengthens differentiation between market tiers, enhances listing quality, and provides a structured progression pathway for companies to scale from ACE to MAIN Market," he said.

According to the SC, the enhancements are a result of public consultations completed in December 2025 as part of the market segmentation review, incorporating feedback from various stakeholders. The adopted proposals for the MAIN Market will take effect on June 3, 2026, through the revised Equity Guidelines.