# How to Invest in the Malaysian Stock Market: A Practical Guide

> To buy shares on Bursa Malaysia you need two things — a CDS account that holds the shares and a trading account with a licensed broker. You can open both from the Bursa Anywhere app or in person at a broker, and every trade carries brokerage, a clearing fee and stamp duty.

- Category: finance
- Language: en
- Status: published
- Updated: 2026-08-01
- Canonical: https://negaraku.md/en/finance/investing-in-bursa-malaysia-guide

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Owning a slice of Maybank or Tenaga starts with two accounts, not one — and neither of them is a bank account. Before you can buy a single share on Bursa Malaysia, you need a place to *hold* the shares and a place to *place the order*. Here is how the two fit together, and what each trade actually costs.

## What do I actually need to start?

Two separate accounts:

- A **CDS account** (Central Depository System) — an electronic account, run by Bursa Malaysia Depository, that records the shares you own. Buy a stock and it lands here; sell it and it leaves from here.
- A **trading account** with a **broker** — formally an Authorised Depository Agent (ADA). This is the firm that actually routes your buy and sell orders to the market.

The CDS account is the vault; the trading account is the counter you place orders at. You need both, and the trading account is always opened with a licensed broker.

## Who can open a CDS account, and how?

Any **individual who has reached the age of 18** as at the application date can open a direct CDS account, as either a beneficial owner or an authorised nominee. There are two routes:

1. **Bursa Anywhere app** — Bursa Malaysia's official mobile app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play. You open the CDS account yourself, then still link a trading account with a broker.
2. **Through a broker (ADA)** — apply in person or online with your chosen brokerage, which opens the CDS and trading accounts together.

Opening a CDS account on Bursa Anywhere carries **no joining or annual maintenance fee**. During registration you upload two documents:

| Document | What to provide |
| --- | --- |
| MyKad | Clear photos of the **front and back** |
| Bank proof | A bank statement or passbook (PDF or screenshot) showing the bank name, logo, account holder name and account number |

Registering on the app does not lock you out of the branch: you can still perform CDS transactions at your broker's office whenever you prefer.

## What will each trade cost me?

Three charges apply, and each is levied on **both** the buy and the sell:

| Charge | Rate | Cap / notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Brokerage commission | Set by your broker | The largest component for most retail trades; brokerage on Bursa-listed shares is currently exempt from service tax |
| Clearing fee | 0.03% of transaction value | Capped at RM1,000 per contract |
| Stamp duty | RM1 for every RM1,000 (or part) of value — about 0.1% | Capped at RM1,000 per contract |

So a RM10,000 buy incurs roughly RM3 in clearing fees and RM10 in stamp duty, plus whatever your broker charges in commission — and you pay a comparable set again when you sell. Because these costs repeat on both legs, frequent small trades are proportionately expensive.

## What's next

Compare brokers before you commit: commission rates are set by each firm, so the platform, research access and minimum charges vary widely. Read our companion piece on [Bursa Malaysia's listing boards and index mechanics](/finance/bursa-malaysia) to understand *what* you are buying, and the [Securities Commission Malaysia](/finance/securities-commission-malaysia) overview to see who regulates the market. If picking individual stocks feels daunting, [unit trust funds](/finance/unit-trust-funds-malaysia) offer a pooled, professionally managed alternative.

## Sources

- Transaction Costs (Equities) — https://www.bursamalaysia.com/trade/trading_resources/equities/transaction_costs (Bursa Malaysia)
- The Cost of Stock Trading in Malaysia: Hidden Fees Investors Should Know — https://www.phillip.com.my/educational_articles/hidden-fees-investors-should-know/ (Phillip Capital Malaysia)
- SST Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), updated 1 July 2025 — https://www.bursamalaysia.com/sites/5d809dcf39fba22790cad230/assets/68638114e6414abcf48ef314/SST_-_FAQs_updated_1_July_2025.pdf (Bursa Malaysia)
- Who can open a CDS account? — https://assist.bursamalaysia.com/hc/en-us/articles/11381362309647-Who-can-open-a-CDS-account (Bursa Malaysia (Bursa Assist))
- Who is eligible to register for Bursa Anywhere? — https://assist.bursamalaysia.com/hc/en-us/articles/11381333518991-Who-is-eligible-to-register-for-Bursa-Anywhere (Bursa Malaysia (Bursa Assist))
- How do I submit the required supporting documents when opening a CDS account on Bursa Anywhere? — https://assist.bursamalaysia.com/hc/en-us/articles/11381355049615-How-do-I-submit-the-required-supporting-documents-when-opening-a-CDS-account-on-Bursa-Anywhere (Bursa Malaysia (Bursa Assist))
- Is there a joining or annual maintenance fee for registering on Bursa Anywhere? — https://assist.bursamalaysia.com/hc/en-us/articles/11381304918031-Is-there-a-joining-or-annual-maintenance-fee-for-registering-on-Bursa-Anywhere (Bursa Malaysia (Bursa Assist))
- Bursa Anywhere on the App Store — https://apps.apple.com/my/app/bursa-anywhere/id1454339260 (Apple App Store)
- Bursa Anywhere on Google Play — https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bursamalaysia.eCDS (Google Play)

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