LICC 2025 - Labuan International Compliance Conference 2025

Money laundering and financial crimes are a serious threat to global economic stability and security, which require a strong anti-money laundering (AML) regime at a national level. This paper assesses the effectiveness of international AML framework, with particular reference to the FATF standards and includes an assessment of Malaysia's implementation of the Anti-Money Laundering and...

External auditors play a significant role in ensuring company’s financial disclosure and internal control is adequate, considering traits opposed in conjunction with equipped independence, and professional due care. Corporate governance in board function has become interested parties directly due to fiduciary duties assigned according to MCCG 2021, giving fundamental view of board role....

In Malaysia's dual-banking system from 2015 to 2024, this study looks at how being foreign and bank-specific factors affected the success of local and foreign Islamic and conventional banks.The study looks at four types of banks: domestic conventional banks, domestic Islamic banks, foreign conventional banks, and foreign Islamic banks. It uses data from Fitch Connect and panel regression...

This study examines the factors influencing Malaysian university students’ behavioural intention to adopt mobile payment platforms by integrating the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) with compliance-related considerations. Using a quantitative research design, data were collected from 306 respondents through structured questionnaires measuring four key determinants: perceived usefulness,...

Abstract
In educational psychology, understanding and improving student engagement remains a key focus. This article explores the complex connection between Learning Management Systems (LMS), Psychological Capital (PsyCap), and student engagement in digital learning settings. Using literature reviews, previous research, and theoretical frameworks, we suggest a conceptual model showing how LMS...

The sustainable economic development of the Lower Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) is the most affected by a lack of capital. However, capital flight has drawn more attention as a potential explanation for the prolonged sluggish development in LMICs for the decades. Recent literature reveals that capital flight is influenced by external debt, macroeconomic, political, governance and...

This study investigates the comparative performance of profit margins across different sectors listed on Bursa Malaysia, aiming to identify sectoral differences and their potential determinants. Bursa Malaysia, as Malaysia’s primary stock exchange, hosts a diversified range of industries including services, manufacturing, and agriculture, each influenced by distinct market dynamics (Bursa...

As the financial world digitizes, the digital skills of employees and customers are critical for security and effective governance. The rise of Financial Technology (FinTech) and Regulatory Technology (RegTech) makes it vital to understand the academic research on this human element of digital transformation. However, there is no clear overview connecting the research on digital literacy in...

Drivers and Challenges in SME Digital Marketing Transformation:
A Conceptual Paper on the Malaysian Context

Abstract

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) form the backbone of Malaysia’s economy yet often lag behind larger firms in digital marketing adoption, limiting competitiveness in an increasingly digital marketplace. Although initiatives such as the MyDIGITAL blueprint aim to...

EMPIRICAL STUDY OF CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS TAKAFUL APPS: An Extension of UTAUT Theory
Nurul Ashiqin Binti Muhammed Thamim,Imran Mehboob Shaikh
Labuan Faculty of International Finance, University Malaysia Sabah
Corresponding author : nurulashiqin0@gmail.com

Abstract
Purpose – This paper aims to determine the factors influencing the behavioural intention of Malaysian Muslims to...

Enhancing Participation and Sustainability of Malaysia’s Private Retirement Scheme (PRS): Key Barriers

Abstract
The purpose of this study is to investigate the main obstacles influencing the Private Retirement Scheme's (PRS) long-term viability and participation in Malaysia. Notwithstanding government incentives and industry-led awareness campaigns, PRS, a voluntary long-term savings plan...

This study explores the key determinants of air transport demand across 40 European countries over the period 2016–2022, with special attention to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on air passengers carried as the dependent variable and a set of macroeconomic indicators including international tourist arrivals, GDP per capita, trade openness, and unemployment rate as explanatory...

ABSTRACT
The current fiat monetary system is inherently prone to depreciation of value over time due to inflationary pressures arising from credit creation. This structural weakness undermines the long-term preservation of wealth, which is a central tenet of the Maqasid al-Shari’ah. Physical gold has historically served as a stable store of value. However, Kelantan's gold dinar initiative,...

The rapid rise of TikTok as a dominant social media platform has transformed digital marketing strategies, particularly through influencer-driven content. This conceptual paper examines the critical variables that shape online purchase intention among TikTok users in Malaysia, focusing on five key constructs: influencer credibility, consumer engagement, electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM), impulse...

Abstract
The rapid rise of TikTok as a dominant social media platform has transformed digital marketing strategies, particularly through influencer-driven content. This conceptual paper examines the critical variables that shape online purchase intention among TikTok users in Malaysia, focusing on five key constructs: influencer credibility, consumer engagement, electronic word-of-mouth...

According to Adaptive Market Hypothesis (AMH), arbitrage possibilities occur intermittently in the stock market, and return predictions evolve with time. In line with AMH, this study investigates the effects of pre- and post-holiday effect for four festivals includes Eid al-Fitr, Christmas, Chinese New Year (CNY), and Diwali. Considering the importance of macroeconomic conditions on investment...

Nur Shahirah Azman, Minah Japang*, Yanti Ahmad Shafie, Ribed Vianneca W. Jubilee, Nurshila Ahmad, Suria Rismawati Sanwari

Correspondence Author: *mina1511@ums.edu.my**

Abstract

Malaysia’s household debt-to-GDP ratio has remained persistently high, exceeding 80% for more than a decade and ranking among the highest in Asia. While mortgage and vehicle financing continue to...

This study aims to understand the similarities as well as differences by looking into and discussing the policy and governance of banks as well as the use of multiple measurements. These include ratio analysis and frontier analysis. Present study on Islamic finance focused on commercial Islamic banks (CIB) instead of Islamic Cooperative Banks (ICB). In theory, Islamic Cooperative Banks (ICB)...

ISLAMIC HOLIDAYS EFFECT ON STOCK MARKET PERFORMANCE: A COMPREHENSIVE LITERATURE REVIEW
ARIQAH NABILA BINTI ADAMa, & RICKY CHIA CHEE JIUNa*
aLabuan Faculty of International Finance, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia

ABSTRACT
This study presents a comprehensive literature review of the influence of Islamic calendar events—both holiday and non-holiday—on stock market performance. With...

This paper presents a comprehensive theoretical exploration of the Net Profit Margin (NPM) concept through the lenses of institutional economics theory, agency theory, contract theory, and dealership theory. An analytical approach was employed to derive the theory of NPM and supported with reasons and justifications to divulge the merits of the theory concerned. The findings suggest that the...

This study seeks to examine the ethical dilemmas associated with the implementation of Islamic principles in the governance and automation of Islamic digital financial systems. This study employs a critical literature review methodology to analyze dozens selected scholarly publications pertinent to the subjects of Islamic ethics, maqāṣid al-sharīʿah, Islamic work ethics (IWE), and the...

Abstract
Purpose: This study will map the intellectual structure, thematic evolution, and global research trends in Islamic finance compliance using a comprehensive bibliometric analysis. It seeks to identify key contributors, dominant themes, and emerging research frontiers to guide future scholarship and policy development.
Design/methodology/approach: Data were retrieved from the Scopus...

Digital piracy poses a significant threat to Malaysia’s creative economy, particularly its rapidly growing animation sector. This paper examines how strategic anti-piracy enforcement can protect intellectual property (IP), secure revenue streams and strengthen Malaysia’s competitive position in the Southeast Asian creative economy. It evaluates existing legal frameworks, government...

Abstract
This study explores the interrelationships between Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO), Market Orientation (MO), Leadership Qualities (LQ), and Organizational Performance (OP) among Bumiputera SMEs in Sabah, Malaysia. Anchored in the Resource-Based View (RBV), the research investigates how EO dimensions influence MO and OP directly and indirectly, with LQ acting as a moderator. Using a...

This study presents a systematic literature review (SLR) examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on stock market return and volatility across global markets. The unprecedented nature of the pandemic induced extreme uncertainty, significantly disrupting investor sentiment, asset prices, and volatility patterns in both developed and emerging economies. Recognizing the importance of...

ABSTRACT
This study explored the impact of the faculty appointment system on teachers' turnover intention in private colleges and universities in Guangxi, China. Faculty turnover is a persistent challenge for educational institutions, particularly in the private sector, where staff retention directly affects institutional stability and the quality of education. This paper conceptualizes the...

This conceptual review explores the moderating role of gender diversity in the relationship between Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices and capital structure decisions within organizations. As ESG considerations increasingly shape corporate strategies, understanding how gender-diverse leadership influences financial decisions becomes crucial. Drawing on insights from...

ABSTRACT
This conceptual paper explores how financial inclusion influences the adoption of financial technologies (FinTech) among young adults in Malaysia. Using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as a foundation, the study introduces financial inclusion as a moderating variable to better understand the relationship between perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and behavioral...

The increasing integration of digital technologies into global trade governance is transforming how environmental objectives are pursued through Trade-Related Environmental Measures (TREMs). This paper explores the role of digitalization in shaping and implementing TREMs, with a specific focus on the legal and policy implications for Malaysia. It examines how technologies such as blockchain,...

Labuan Federal Territory, Malaysia’s status as a midshore financial hub and a growing center for Islamic fintech services which has contributed to increased financial activity and digital investment access among its population. As a result, young adults aged 18–35 are becoming increasingly exposed to sophisticated investment opportunities and, correspondingly, to higher risks of financial...