As at Jan 1, 2019, banks must report any cash transactions exceeding RM25,000 in their daily cash threshold report, a reduction from the current RM50,000 limit.
The amount excludes bank drafts, cheques, electronic transfers or fixed deposit rollovers or renewals.
Bank Negara Malaysia Governor Datuk Nor Shamsiah Yunus said despite the advancements made in epayments, the use of cash among the public and small and medium-sized businesses remains high.
“This opens up the economy to risks as cash is still being used by criminals to launder illegal proceeds, as we have seen from some high-profile cases over the past year or so.
“Similarly, this is the preferred mode to finance terrorist activities, which will involve transacting in cash,” she said in her keynote speech at the 10th International Conference on Financial Crime and Terrorism Financing.
The present requirements call for sources of funds to be disclosed for any financial transactions exceeding RM50,000 that is done over the counter, involving physical currencies and bearer negotiable instruments such as travellers’ cheques.
Malaysia ranks 10th in the list of illicit money outflows and money laundering offences in the world, and it currently has among the highest mandatory cash deposit threshold, higher than the United States’ US$10,000 (RM41,000).
“When we compare Malaysia with other countries, our current threshold is too high and disconnected from the size of our economy, especially relative to our purchasing power.”
Nor Shamsiah said the lowered threshold will bring Malaysia at par with other countries.
“We do not anticipate any impact in terms of economic activity but an increase in effectiveness in taming the black economy that is still heavily reliant on cash transactions,” she said.