KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Nov. 5, 2025 -- Amid escalating financial crime rates, the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers (AICB) and its Compliance Officers' Networking Group (CONG) — with the support of Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), Securities Commission Malaysia, and Labuan Financial Services Authority — convened over 50 global and regional subject matter experts and over 1,200 banking professionals at the 15th International Conference on Financial Crime and Counter Terrorism Financing (IFCTF) 2025, from 4–6 November 2025 at MITEC, Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia recorded RM1.12 billion^[1] in online fraud losses in the first half of 2025, with scam-related losses totalling nearly RM1.92 billion^[2] by September. Globally, illicit financial flows are estimated at USD3.1 trillion, with fraud and bank scams accounting for nearly USD486 billion^[3], underscoring the urgent need for closer cross-border and ecosystem-wide collaboration to combat financial crime.

The banking industry continues to drive the nationwide #JanganKenaScam campaign to enhance public awareness and fraud resilience. Since its launch in 2023, banks have rolled out stronger safeguards, reflecting a sector-wide commitment to protect consumers and preserve trust and financial stability. Public vigilance is growing, based on a recent survey by The Association of Banks in Malaysia, with most Malaysians reporting that they actively monitor scam alerts and take swift action against suspicious activity. These efforts reflect a stronger, more coordinated national response to protecting consumers and upholding trust in the financial system.

Delivering the opening remarks, BNM Governor Dato' Sri Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour said, "As technology and AI reshape compliance and AML, we must remember that personal conduct and ethics are what ultimately sustain trust. No algorithm can replace the judgment, integrity, and accountability expected of the financial industry."

In his welcome remarks, AICB Chairman Tan Sri Azman Hashim said, "The alignment between innovation and integrity defines Malaysia's approach — progress powered by technology, anchored in ethics. But even the most advanced systems cannot replace sound judgment or strong values. In this digital age, every one of us is a firewall — our vigilance, ethics, and professionalism form the invisible barrier that keeps our financial system secure. Our strength lies in our people — skilled, principled, and vigilant who remain our greatest line of defence."

Faradina Ghouse, CB, Chairman, CONG; Group Chief Compliance Officer, AmBank Group, "Financial institutions sit at the frontline of the fight against financial crime. As the landscape grows more complex, our collective ability to detect, prevent, and respond depends on how well we share intelligence, strengthen cross-border cooperation, and build the right skills. Compliance today is not just about regulation — it is about resilience, integrity, and collaboration across the entire financial ecosystem."

Themed "The Future is Now: Tech-driven Compliance in the Fight Against Financial Crime", this year's discussions examine how AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics are transforming compliance and risk management. Key topics include AI-enabled fraud detection, machine learning-driven compliance, the rise of virtual assets, terrorism and proliferation financing, and anti-bribery and AML frameworks, all set against a backdrop of tightening global enforcement and rising digital-fraud threats.

Reflecting Malaysia's broader commitment to reform, Budget 2026 allocates RM32 million^[4] to strengthen legal frameworks and combat scams, alongside the introduction of a new Cyber Crime Bill and expanded capabilities for the National Scam Response Centre.

Now in its 15^th year, IFCTF stands as ASEAN's most influential thought-leadership platform for financial crime prevention and compliance excellence, reaffirming AICB's commitment to advancing digital literacy, global collaboration and ethical leadership across the banking and financial sector.

Find out more about AICB's upcoming events at www.aicb.org.my/events/upcoming.

– End –

About Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers

The Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers (AICB) is the sole professional body for Malaysia's banking industry, governed by a council of representatives from Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), The Association of Banks in Malaysia (ABM), and the Malaysian Investment Banking Association (MIBA). With over 37,000 members, AICB aims to strengthen the banking workforce with the highest standards of professional conduct, knowledge, and competence through our banking qualifications.

AICB is the only institute in Southeast Asia that is authorised by the Chartered Banker Institute, UK, to award the Chartered Banker status. The Institute continues to support the growth of its members through innovative learning and by advocating professionalism, advancing thought leadership, and facilitating networking opportunities.

For more information on AICB, please visit www.aicb.org.my