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By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Financial Planning Council (MFPC) has welcomed the Securities Commission’s (SC) revised Advertising Guidelines, saying the move marks an important initial step in addressing the growing influence of finfluencers and unregulated investment advice online. MFPC president Andy Ng Yen Heng said professionalism and accountability were essential in maintaining trust in the financial system. “Unlicensed advice erodes trust, but professionalism restores it. MFPC will continue raising the bar for ethical and responsible financial guidance to uphold the integrity of the profession and protect the public,” he said. The council warned that fraudelent or unlicensed online advice could expose consumers to serious financial risks, particularly as such practices undermine consumer protection, professional standards, and overall market integrity. MFPC said it supports clearer regulations that distinguish genuine financial education from regulated advice ...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: The Securities Commission (SC) is stepping up enforcement against unlicensed and fraudulent finfluencers. According to the SC, finfluencers are generally referred to as individuals who leverage social media platforms to share investment-related content, ranging from general financial education to specific stock recommendations. To date, the commission has issued 31 cease-and-desist notices and one warning letter to those providing unlicensed investment advice. The SC has also taken stronger action against five finfluencers, including two criminal charges as well as five reprimands with fines. “The actions were taken amid growing regulatory concerns over the proliferation of self-styled investment gurus online. “SC’s enforcement actions send a clear message that providing investment advice is a regulated activity and must only be carried out by licensed individuals or entities,” it said.  The commission s...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Financial Planning Council (MFPC) has welcomed the Securities Commission’s (SC) revised Advertising Guidelines, saying the move marks an important initial step in addressing the growing influence of finfluencers and unregulated investment advice online. MFPC president Andy Ng Yen Heng said professionalism and accountability were essential in maintaining trust in the financial system. “Unlicensed advice erodes trust, but professionalism restores it. MFPC will continue raising the bar for ethical and responsible financial guidance to uphold the integrity of the profession and protect the public,” he said. The council warned that misleading or unlicensed online advice could expose consumers to serious financial risks, particularly as such practices undermine consumer protection, professional standards, and overall market integrity. MFPC said it supports clearer regulations that distinguish genuine financial education from regulated advice ...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: The Security Commission (SC) is stepping up the action against errant finfluencers and companies that employ them to give misleading or false financial advice to the public. To date, the SC has taken targeted enforcement actions against finfluencers, issuing 31 cease-and-desist notices and one warning letter to those providing unlicensed investment advice. The commission has also pursued stronger measures against five finfluencers, including two criminal charges as well as five reprimands with fines. “The actions were taken amid growing regulatory concerns over the proliferation of self-styled investment gurus online. “SC’s enforcement actions send a clear message that providing investment advice is a regulated activity and must only be carried out by licensed individuals or entities,” it said.  The commission said it is actively monitoring the capital market, including soci...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: Meat, eggs and dairy products are safe to consume if handled and cooked properly, say experts. A microbiologist from Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin’s (UniSZA), Prof Dr Yeo Chew Chieng, said proper cooking and hygiene practices will protect consumers from being exposed to antibiotic-resistant bacteria in food-producing animals. “These drug-resistant bacteria might contaminate foods like meat, eggs and milk, but the bacteria will not transmit to humans if the foods are properly cooked as most of the bacteria could not survive. “Cooking, if done properly, destroys these bacteria. “The main issue is not the cooked food itself, but contamination that happens when raw meat juices come into contact with ready-to-eat items like salads or fruits,” said Prof Yeo.  Prof Yeo, who is chairman of the Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases and Biotechnology at UniSZA’s Faculty of Medicine, said drug-resistant bacteria can survive in animal guts or on their...

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI PETALING JAYA: Rising antibiotic resistance has been detected in livestock due to improper use of antimicrobial drugs at farms, says the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS). The department said samples of bacteria taken from livestock, including poultry, pigs, and dairy cattle showed increasing resistance to certain types of antibiotics over the past few years. The department assured that animal-based products are safe to consume (see related story) but said measures are needed across the entire food chain to deal with the problem. It said rising Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in livestock is mainly due to the improper use of antibiotics among farmers. This includes administering the wrong dosage, extending treatment beyond recommended periods, or using unsuitable types of antibiotics that do not align with regulations and guidelines. “High usage of antibiotics for preventive (prophylactic) and growth promoter purpose...