BNM to Review Money Laundering Risks for Dealers, Agents and Accountants in 2027

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) says it will carry out the next round of the National Risk Assessment in 2027, and this time it wants a closer look at the money laundering and terrorism financing risks in a group of sectors that sit outside the banking system. These are known as Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions, or DNFBPs, and they include businesses such as dealers, estate agents and accountants.

The plan was shared by Deputy Governor Datuk Marzunisham Omar in his welcoming remarks at the DNFBP Compliance Conference 2026 on Thursday, 22 October, as reported by Bernama via Malay Mail and The Star on Friday.

What BNM announced

According to the reports, the 2027 assessment is meant to give the central bank a deeper picture of where the risks lie in each of these sectors. The findings are expected to feed into more targeted policies, guidance and mitigation measures tailored to each industry, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Marzunisham also asked people working in these sectors to share their on-the-ground experience, saying their practical insights would help keep policy responses effective, proportionate and grounded in how each sector actually works.

Recent enforcement cases

The deputy governor pointed to recent joint enforcement actions to show that BNM takes non-compliance seriously:

• A company secretary: BNM and the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) took action against a company secretary who failed to file suspicious transaction reports involving foreign nationals suspected of links to an international scam syndicate.
• A Labuan investment bank: BNM and the Labuan Financial Services Authority (LFSA) acted against a Labuan investment bank over material weaknesses in customer due diligence and delays in submitting suspicious transaction reports.
• The wider point: he said strong laws and policies are not enough on their own, and credible supervision and enforcement are needed too, because a weak spot in any part of the system can undermine Malaysia's whole anti-money laundering framework.

"Weak due diligence, vigilance and reporting create space for criminals to operate." (Datuk Marzunisham Omar, BNM Deputy Governor, as quoted by Bernama)

He added that professional services should never become the route through which illegal money is made to look legitimate, whether that happens knowingly or unknowingly.

What this means for Malaysian readers

If you run a small firm that handles other people's money or helps set up companies, such as an accounting practice, a company secretarial service, a property agency or a dealer business, this is a signal that regulators will be studying your sector more closely over the next year or so. No new rules have been announced yet, but a risk assessment is usually the step that comes before sharper guidance.

A sensible move now is to check the basics: know who your clients really are, keep proper records of how you verified them, and make sure staff know when and how to raise a suspicious transaction. For other SMEs, it is a reminder that your accountant, agent or company secretary may start asking more questions and requesting more documents. That is part of their legal duty, not red tape aimed at you.

Sources: Malay Mail, "Tighter rules for Malaysian dealers, agents, and accountants? BNM to review money laundering risks next year", 23 October 2026; The Star (Bernama), 23 October 2026; and Bank Negara Malaysia, Deputy Governor's welcoming remarks at the DNFBP Compliance Conference 2026. Rewritten in our own words.