Malaysia’s financial capability has barely improved even as households face growing pressure from rising healthcare costs, an ageing population and the energy transition, putting financial resilience increasingly at the heart of the country’s sustainability agenda.
According to Bank Negara Malaysia’s Financial Capability and Inclusion Demand Side Survey, the Malaysia Financial Literacy and Capability Index stood at 59.1 out of 100 in 2024, little changed from 59.0 in 2021.
The issue took centre stage at CGS International Securities Malaysia’s 4th ESG and Sustainability Conference, where policymakers, corporate leaders and investors examined how demographic and economic shifts are reshaping the meaning of sustainable growth.
CGS International Securities Malaysia Sdn Bhd (CGS MY) Chief Executive Officer Khairi Shahrin Arief Baki said sustainability must extend beyond environmental concerns to include healthcare affordability, financial preparedness, energy costs, food security and the challenges of an ageing society.
“Sustainable growth ultimately needs to translate into stronger businesses, more resilient households and better long-term outcomes for future generations,” he said.
In conjunction with the conference, CGS MY launched UP & AWAY!, a financial literacy card game co-developed with Malaysian comic artist Ernest Ng. The initiative aims to teach budgeting, wealth accumulation, risk management and market dynamics through applied decision-making.
CGS MY plans to roll out the programme across schools and universities, targeting 50,000 young Malaysians by year-end, while introducing an online assessment to track participants’ financial literacy progress.
The conference also explored Malaysia’s electric vehicle and energy transition, estate and tax planning, food security and how companies are recalibrating their ESG strategies as sustainability becomes increasingly tied to household and economic resilience.
