Journal Screenshot

International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences

Open Access Journal

ISSN: 2225-8329

The Effectiveness of Anti Money Laundering Regulations of Malaysian Commercial Banks

Lailatul Badariah binti Ahmad Mahmud , Aida Hazlin Ismail

http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARAFMS/v13-i1/15853

Open access

Money laundering has now been designated as a global crime, requiring the development of global strategies and policies to combat it. As a result, global courts should be established to hear all money-laundering cases and make informed decisions on punishments and penalties. The objective of this research is to assess the effectiveness of anti-money laundering (AML) regulations in Malaysian commercial banks. Customer record-keeping, suspicious transaction reporting, and employee training are three predictors that have been expected to affect money-laundering activities. Simple random sampling was used to pick the respondents from bank employees in the Klang Valley area. A total of 94 (94%) questionnaires were returned, and the data were analysed using descriptive and multiple regression analysis. The results indicating that customer record keeping, suspicious transaction reporting, and employee training have a significant relationship on money laundering prevention. Money laundering activities could be curbed by concentrating on customer record keeping, suspicious transaction reporting, and employee training. The findings show how the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA) has become a vital gap in combating money laundering. Similar research may be performed in other environments with different money laundering laws and regulations.

Yeandle, M., Mainelli, M. Berendt, A., & Healy, B. (2005), Anti-Money Laundering Requirements: Costs, Benefits and Perceptions. City Research Series Number Six, 6(June), 1–58.
Okogbule, N. S. (2007), Regulation of Money Laundering in Africa: The Nigerian and Zambian Approaches. Journal of Money Laundering Control, 10(4), 449–463. https://doi.org/10.1108/13685200710830934.
Amali, M. O. (2016), Curbing Money Laundering: Global Reception and Implementation of International Anti Money Laundering Standards-A case study on Nigeria (University of Huddersfield). Retrieved from http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/id/eprint/31396.
AMLATFPUAA. (2001). Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001. Laws of Malaysia Act 613, (December), 144. Retrieved from http://www.agc.gov.my/agcportal/uploads/files/ACT 613 diluluskan TPPUU Dis 2015.pdf.
Buang, S. (2018) AMLA: An Extremely Powerful Legislation. Retrieved from New Straits Times website:https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnists/2018/07/394517/amla-extremely-powerful-legislation.
Kewangan. (2006), U. P. Money Laundering and Financial Crimes INCSR 2006 Volume II. In Bank Negara Malaysia.
James, R. (2000), New Zealand: A View of Money Laundering. Journal of Money Laundering Control, 3(3), 280–284. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb027240.
Rahman, A. A. (2014), Combating Money Laundering and the Future of Banking Secrecy Laws in Malaysia. Journal of Money Laundering Control, 17(2), 219–229. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMLC-09-2013-0036.
Siggia, S. (2021), Why Do Most AML Programs Fail? Retrieved from Pideeco website: https://pideeco.be/articles/why-most-aml-programs-fail.
Vani Muppayyanamath. (2017), Anti-Money Laundering: Challenges and Trends. TCS White Papers, 7. Retrieved from
https://www.tcs.com/content/dam/tcs/pdf/Industries/Banking and Financial Services/Anti-Money Laundering - Challenges and trends.pdf.
Nakib, B. El. (2015), Poor Training and Procedures Key Triggers for AML Violations. Retrieved from Compliance Alert website: https://calert.info/details.php?id=1291.
International Finance Corporation. (2019). Anti-Money Laundering (AML) & Countering Financing of Terrorism (CFT) Risk Management in Emerging Market Banks. World Bank Group.
Said, J., Ghani, E. K., Omar, N., & Yusof, S. N. S. (2013), Money Laundering Prevention Measures among Commercial Banks in Malaysia. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 4(5), 227–235.
Omar, N., Mohd-Sanusi, Z., & Prabowo, H. (2015), Awareness, Perceived Impact and Views of Malaysian Accountants on the AML/CFT Requirements. Journal of Economics, Business and Management, 3(2), 226–232. https://doi.org/10.7763/joebm.2015.v3.185.
Smet, D. D., & Mention, A. L., (2011), Improving auditor effectiveness in assessing KYC/AML practices. Managerial Auditing Journal, Vol. 26 No, 182–203.
Kemal, U. M. (2014), Anti-Money Laundering Regulations and Its Effectiveness. Journal of Money Laundering Control, 17(4), 416–427. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMLC-06-2013-0022.
Yaacob, N. M., & Harun, A. H. (2019), The Effectiveness of Money-Laundering Regulations: Evidence from Money-Services-Business Industry in Malaysia. International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering, 8(3), 8643–8648. https://doi.org/10.35940/ijrte.C6454.098319.
Bolton, R. J., & Hand, D. J. (2002), Statistical Fraud Detection: A Review. Statistical Science, 17(3), 235–255. https://doi.org/10.1214/ss/1042727940.
Singh, D. Incorporating with Fraudulent Intentions: A Study of Various Differentiating Attributes of Shell Companies in India. Journal of Financial Crime, 17(4), 459–484. https://doi.org/10.1108/13590791011082805, 2010.
Fanta, F., & Mohsin, H. (2010), Anti-Money Laundry Regulation and Crime: A Two-Period Model of Money-in-the-Utility-Function. Munich Personal RePEc Archive, (25773). Retrieved from https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/25773.
Aspalella, A. R. (2013), The Impact of Reporting Suspicious Transactions Regime on Banks: Malaysian Experience. Journal of Money Laundering Control, 16(2), 159–170. https://doi.org/10.1108/13685201311318502.
Tang, J., & Ai, L. (2013), Combating Money Laundering in Transition Countries: The Inherent Limitations and Practical Issues. Journal of Money Laundering Control, 13, 215–225. https://doi.org/10.1108/13685201011057127.
Shehu, A. Y. (2010), Promoting Financial Sector Stability Through an Effective AML/CFT Regime. Journal of Money Laundering Control, 13(2), 139–154. https://doi.org/10.1108/13685201011034087.
Jensen, N., & Cheong, A. P. (2011), Implementation of the FATF 40+9 Recommendations: A Perspective from Developing Countries. Journal of Money Laundering Control, 14, 110–120. https://doi.org/10.1108/13685201111127777.
Sharman, J. C. (2008), Power and Discourse in Policy Diffusion: Anti-Money Laundering in Developing States. International Studies Quarterly, 52(3), 635–656. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2478.2008.00518.x.
BNM. (2020), List of Licensed Financial Institutions | Bank Negara Malaysia | Central Bank of Malaysia. Retrieved from Bank Negara Malaysia website: https://www.bnm.gov.my/index.php?ch=fs&pg=fs_mfs_list&ac=118&lang=en.

In-Text Citation: (Mahmud & Ismail, 2023)
To Cite this Article: Mahmud, L. B. binti A., & Ismail, A. H. (2023). The Effectiveness of Anti Money Laundering Regulations of Malaysian Commercial Banks. International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting Finance and Management Sciences, 13(1), 104–114.