KUALA LUMPUR, 12 August 2026 — Against the backdrop of new challenges arising from the rapid development of artificial intelligence, data protection, fintech and digital assets, Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry YB Sim Tze Tzin called for greater collaboration among the legal profession, regulators and technology leaders to develop more agile, principles-based legal frameworks capable of addressing the evolving regulatory and business risks of the new economy.
Halim Hong & Quek (HHQ) successfully hosted the APAC Legal Summit 2026 today at Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, bringing together more than 400 business leaders, General Counsel, regulators, policymakers, investors and legal professionals from across the Asia-Pacific region to explore the legal, regulatory and business trends shaping Malaysia’s new economy.
The Summit, themed “Navigating Regulation, Risk and Growth Across Malaysia’s New Economy,” provided a high-level and constructive platform for regional dialogue on the opportunities and challenges arising from technological innovation, regulatory reform, cross-border investment and geopolitical shifts.
Highlights
• More than 400 attendees from across Asia-Pacific, including business leaders, General Counsel, regulators, policymakers, investors and legal professionals.
• Six high-level sessions covering key issues including artificial intelligence, personal data protection, cross-border investment, digital assets, fraud and asset recovery, and environmental, social and governance (ESG).
• A distinguished line-up of speakers representing government agencies, regulatory authorities, multinational corporations, research institutions and leading regional law firms.
• Highlighted the importance of deeper public-private collaboration in advancing Malaysia’s economic transformation, attracting high-quality investment and strengthening regional competitiveness.
The Summit brought together a distinguished line-up of speakers, including YB Sim Tze Tzin, Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry; Puan Masni Muhammad, Senior Executive Director, Investment Policy Advocacy, Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA); Puan Shariffah Rashidah Syed Othman, Personal Data Protection Commissioner of Malaysia; Dato’ Sri Shamshun Baharin Bin Mohd Jamil, Director General of the National Anti-Financial Crime Centre (NFCC); Dato’ Omar Siddiq bin Amir Noer Rashid, Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad; Professor Emeritus Dr Jomo Kwame Sundaram, Research Advisor at Khazanah Research Institute; and Dalvin Kaur, Head Legal, Group Global Banking and Regional Head, Legal at Maybank Investment Bank, alongside representatives from prominent institutions and leading law firms in Malaysia and Singapore.
The Summit featured six high-level sessions that explored some of today’s most pressing legal and business issues, including Malaysia’s economic competitiveness and investment outlook, the future of artificial intelligence and personal data protection, cross-border asset tracing and recovery, investment structures and strategies for regional expansion, digital assets and tokenisation, and the translation of increasingly important environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments into practical business strategies.
