This guide is for you if you already have a trading account, or are about to open one, and want to place your first buy order without mistakes. If you are still deciding whether to invest at all, start with my guide on cara mula melabur saham di Bursa Malaysia.
This guide covers only the order itself: placing it, tracking it and settling it. I handle these orders for clients every day at Malacca Securities. Most first-timer problems happen at the same few steps, so I will point them out as we go.
What You Need Before You Buy
- A trading account with a stockbroker. This is where you place orders, for example through the M+ Global app at Malacca Securities.
- A CDS account linked to that broker. Bursa is scripless, so there are no share certificates. Your shares are held electronically in the Central Depository System, which is operated by Bursa Malaysia Depository Sdn Bhd. You have one CDS account with each broker, so different brokers mean different CDS numbers. M+ CDS numbers are 15 digits and start with 012-001.
- A funded account. You either deposit cash upfront, or you trade against a trading limit that your broker approves.
This trips people up: a trading limit is not free money. You still have to pay the full amount by the settlement date.
How to Place a Buy Order in M+ Global
The exact screens may change with app updates, but the flow is the same.
- Search the stock. In the app, type the stock code or company name. Always confirm the code. Some companies have warrants or other securities with very similar names.
- Select Buy. Open the order screen for that stock.
- Enter the quantity. Check whether the field asks for lots or units. On Bursa, 1 lot = 100 units, so 5 lots means 500 shares.
- Choose the order type and price. Your price must follow Bursa’s price steps. If it does not, the app will reject the order.
- Set the validity. This decides how long the order stays in the market (explained below).
- Review and confirm. Check the stock, quantity, price and estimated value. Then confirm with whatever security step the app asks for.
Limit vs Market Orders, and Order Validity
| Feature | Limit Order | Market Order |
|---|---|---|
| Price | You set the highest price you will pay | Matches at the best available selling prices |
| Certainty of matching | Not guaranteed | Higher, if sellers are available |
| Main risk | The order may never fill | Paying more than expected in thinly traded stocks |
| Best for | Most beginners | Very liquid stocks, when speed matters |
I recommend limit orders for almost every new client. You always know the most you will pay.
Validity decides how long your order stays active:
- Day order: expires at the end of the trading day if it is not filled.
- Good-till-date: stays in the queue until the date you choose, unless it fills earlier.
Check which validity options your app offers before you rely on them.
After you confirm, go to the order status or order book screen in the app. You will see one of these statuses:
- Queued: your order is waiting and nothing has matched yet.
- Partially matched: some lots have been bought and the rest are still waiting.
- Fully matched: the whole order is done.
The exact wording varies by app, but these are the three situations you are looking for.
When Can Your Order Actually Match?
Bursa’s trading day is divided into sessions:
- Pre-open session: orders can be entered but are not matched. When the market opens, these orders are matched at a single opening price.
- Continuous trading: orders match as buyers and sellers meet.
- Closing phase: the market winds down for the day.
Session times can change, so confirm the current schedule on the Bursa Malaysia website. If you place an order outside market hours, the app may hold it for the next session or reject it. Check your order status rather than assuming.
After the Trade: T+2, Contract Note and CDS
- Check your contract note. Your broker issues one for every matched trade. It shows the price, quantity, fees and settlement date.
- Pay by T+2. Bursa trades settle two market days after the trade date. Weekends and public holidays are not counted. If you paid cash upfront, the amount is usually already set aside.
- Confirm the shares are in your CDS. After settlement, check your portfolio in the app. You can also check your CDS statement through Bursa Anywhere.
What a Trade Costs: Brokerage Fee Malaysia Explained
Every buy order has three main costs:
- Brokerage: differs by broker. It is usually a percentage of the trade value, with a minimum fee per trade. That minimum is why very small trades cost more in percentage terms.
- Clearing fee: 0.03% of the trade value, capped at RM1,000 per contract.
- Stamp duty: RM1 for every RM1,000 of contract value or part thereof, capped at RM1,000.
For example, a RM2,500 purchase attracts RM3 stamp duty, because the partial RM500 counts as a full block. The clearing fee on the same trade is RM0.75.
To find your broker’s current brokerage rates, check its published fee schedule, look in the app, or ask your remisier. Your contract note shows exactly what you were charged, including any applicable tax.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Entering units instead of lots. Typing 1,000 into a lots field means 100,000 shares. This is the most expensive mistake I see.
- Setting an unrealistic limit price. A price far below the market just sits in the queue until it expires. A typo on the high side can fill at prices you never intended.
- Not having enough cash for settlement. Remember the fees, and remember that a trading limit still has to be paid by T+2.
- Buying odd lots unknowingly. Any quantity under 100 units, or not in multiples of 100, can end up as an odd lot. Odd lots trade in a separate market with less liquidity, so they are harder to sell.
- Picking the wrong code. Warrants and mother shares can look alike in a search, so always confirm the code.
- Assuming the trade is done because you pressed confirm. Always check the order status.
Key Takeaways
- Have a trading account, a linked CDS account and enough funds before you order.
- Quantity on Bursa is in lots, and 1 lot = 100 units.
- Limit orders give beginners price control. Market orders trade price control for speed.
- Your order only matches during trading sessions. Check whether it is queued, partially matched or fully matched.
- Settlement is T+2, and your shares show up in your CDS account.
Frequently Asked Questions
1 lot how many shares in Malaysia?
One standard board lot on Bursa Malaysia is 100 units. If you buy 10 lots, you own 1,000 shares. Quantities below 100 units are odd lots and trade in a separate market.
How long before my shares appear in my CDS account?
Shares are credited on settlement, which is two market days after your trade (T+2). You can confirm this in your broker app’s portfolio or through Bursa Anywhere.
What happens if I cannot pay by the settlement date?
Your broker may force-sell the shares, and you bear any loss plus any charges. Each broker has its own terms. If you see a shortfall coming, contact your remisier before the due date.
What documents do I need to open a trading account?
Malaysians usually need their MyKad and a bank account in their own name. The app guides you through identity verification online, and your CDS account is opened together with the trading account. Requirements can differ for non-residents, so check with the broker first.
Can I cancel a buy order after placing it?
Yes, you can cancel any part of the order that has not yet matched, from the order status screen in the app. Lots that have already matched cannot be cancelled and will go through settlement as normal.
If you would like help placing your first order, or just a second pair of eyes before you press confirm, reach out to me. I am Dexter Chia, a licensed remisier at Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd. Open your M+ Global account with invitation code UBZQ and you get my personal remisier service at no extra charge, including investment guidance, stock ideas and market insights. New UBZQ clients also get 7 days of free access to my AI Stock Trend Terminal at ai.dexterchia.com. WhatsApp me at +60169059789.
Need Help With This?
If you are an M+ Global client and need help with this process, message me directly — I handle these requests for clients every week.
WhatsApp: +60169059789 | M+ Global Invitation Code: UBZQ
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research before making investment decisions.
Want to invest in Bursa Malaysia or US markets? Contact Dexter Chia, an AI Driven Remisier who has 2,300+ clients at Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd (M+ Global). M+ Global Invitation Code: UBZQ | WhatsApp: +60169059789 | Why Choose Dexter?
