KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 27): Bursa Malaysia Bhd said the stamp duty exemption for exchange-traded funds and structured warrants will boost trading, liquidity and vibrancy in the local capital market.

"By announcing the two exemptions, we are pleased that the government recognises the increasing popularity of these two growing investment products," its chief executive officer Datuk Seri Tajuddin Atan said in a statement today.

"We, therefore, urge all Malaysians, especially millennials, to take advantage of the exemptions. Our hope is for Malaysians to become a financially literate and an investing society. Investments can help to supplement their income; it will help in wealth creation," he added.

The stock exchange operator described Budget 2018 as an inclusive one that empowers the less privileged through education, as well as equal economic and social opportunities.

"In short, no one is being left behind as our nation prospers," Tajuddin said.

Tajuddin is also of the view that the national budget reinforces the country’s strong fundamentals.

"The economy has benefitted from high private investments, while we continue to see decreasing fiscal deficit year after year. Malaysia has always gained from sound economic policies which has laid the foundation for strong economic performance.

"We applaud the improvements in the income levels of the bottom 40% and take comfort with the decrease in the Gini Coefficient — the lowest in history," Tajuddin noted.