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THE FINANCIAL HUB RACE

Malaysia’s strongest card in multi-hub push could be Islamic finance

The country is not short of financial-hub options; the challenge is making them come together

Tan Ai Leng
Published Thu, Aug 27, 2026 · 07:00 AM
    • From Labuan to the purpose-built Tun Razak Exchange in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia has deployed special rules, incentives and infrastructure to attract global financial activity.
    • From Labuan to the purpose-built Tun Razak Exchange in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia has deployed special rules, incentives and infrastructure to attract global financial activity. PHOTO: TRX

    South-east Asia is building a new generation of financial centres to draw global capital. The second instalment in our series examines Malaysia’s multi-hub strategy.

    [KUALA LUMPUR] From Labuan’s offshore financial jurisdiction off the coast of Sabah, to Kuala Lumpur’s purpose-built Tun Razak Exchange (TRX), Malaysia has assembled different pieces of an international financial ecosystem, backed by targeted rules, incentives and infrastructure.

    Forest City – while not formally an International Financial Centre (IFC) – adds a newer and more targeted play, having been designated a special financial zone in 2023.