Legal Insight by HHQ

PDPA Guidelines Series (Part 1): Understanding DPIA

Following the release of the new Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) Guidelines by the Department of Personal Data Protection, organisations are now expected to take a more structured and risk-based approach towards personal data processing. But what exactly is a DPIA, when is it required, and how should organisations approach it in practice? In this episode of The Legal Insight Podcast, our Technology Practice Group Partners, Ong Johnson and Lo Khai Yi, join host Zach Shaw to unpack the practical implications of the new DPIA Guidelines and what organisations should be paying attention to moving forward. 💡 As regulatory expectations continue to evolve, organisations will need to move beyond compliance on paper and focus on practical implementation, risk management and accountability in data governance. 🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe and turn on notifications to stay updated with the latest episodes of The Legal Insight Podcast.

Corporate Liability under Section 17A of MACC: What Directors Must Do Now

In this Part 2 of our discussion on Corporate Liability under Section 17A of the MACC Act 2009, we move beyond the fundamentals and focus on what directors and senior management must do to protect their organisations from corporate liability. As enforcement under Section 17A continues to evolve, companies can now be held liable for corrupt acts committed by employees or associated persons. This makes governance, oversight and compliance more critical than ever. The discussion highlights the statutory defence of “adequate procedures” and why policies, trainings, monitoring and enforcement must go beyond paper compliance. We sit down again with: • Mr Ankit Sanghvi, Partner and Head of ESG at Halim Hong & Quek • Ms Cynthia Gabriel, founder of Cynthia Gabriel & Associates, and award-winning anti-corruption and human rights advocate Corporate liability is no longer just a legal risk. It is a call for stronger governance, accountability and integrity across organisations operating in Malaysia.

Tokenised Money: From Concept to Application

Following Part 1, where we explored the fundamentals of tokenised money, the focus now shifts to where real value can be unlocked and how financial institutions can position themselves within this evolving ecosystem. While the concept is gaining traction, the key question remains: where are the practical opportunities, and how can they be implemented? In this episode of The Legal Insight Podcast, our Technology Practice Group Partners, Ong Johnson and Lo Khai Yi, join host Zach Shaw to examine how tokenised money moves beyond theory into real-world application. In this discussion, we explore: ✅ Why cross-border payments and remittance are widely viewed as key use cases ✅ How tokenised money enables near real-time (T+0) settlement across jurisdictions ✅ The legal and regulatory considerations involved in cross-border transactions ✅ The growing role of digital asset custody and its importance in risk management ✅ How tokenisation extends into capital market products such as bonds and sukuk ✅ The role of regulatory sandboxes in shaping Malaysia’s future framework 💡 Tokenised money is not just about issuing tokens. It is about solving real inefficiencies in today’s financial system and supporting a more efficient and connected financial ecosystem. 🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications to stay updated with the latest episodes of The Legal Insight Podcast.

Corporate Liability under Section 17A of MACC: A Gamechanger

For decades, corruption was seen as a crime committed only by individuals inside a company. But with the introduction of Section 17A of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, the landscape has shifted dramatically. Corporations themselves can now be held criminally liable for bribery. The only defence? Proving that “adequate procedures” were in place. This episode explores why Section 17A is a gamechanger for boards and directors by transforming anti-corruption from a compliance add-on into a survival imperative. We sit down with: • Mr Ankit Sanghvi, Partner and Head of ESG at Halim Hong & Quek • Ms Cynthia Gabriel, founder of Cynthia Gabriel & Associates, and award-winning anti-corruption and human rights advocate They unpack: • Why corporate liability under Section 17A changes the rules of the game in Malaysia’s anti-corruption landscape • How the TRUST principles provide a practical framework for boards to operationalize compliance and protect themselves against liability • What the Pristine Offshore case revealed about corporate vulnerability and why failure to anticipate bribery risks can trigger liability • Why directors and boards must recognize that Section 17A makes anti-corruption oversight a non-negotiable responsibility, with personal liability and reputational damage at stake. Expect clarity, candour and real talk about what Section 17A means for corporations, directors and future of governance in Malaysia.

Tokenised Money: Concepts and Developments in Malaysia

As tokenized money gains momentum globally, Malaysia is beginning to lay the groundwork for its adoption through regulatory initiatives and industry experimentation. But what exactly is tokenized money, and why is it becoming such a critical topic for financial institutions and businesses today? In this episode of The Legal Insight Podcast, our Technology Practice Group Partners, Ong Johnson and Lo Khai Yi, join host Zach Shaw to break down the fundamentals of tokenized money and how the ecosystem is starting to take shape in Malaysia. In this discussion, we explore: ✅ What “tokenized money” really means in practical terms ✅ The differences between CBDCs, stablecoins, and tokenized deposits ✅ How Bank Negara Malaysia’s Digital Assets Innovation Hub (DAIH) is driving early adoption ✅ Real-world initiatives by financial institutions in Malaysia ✅ The broader ecosystem beyond token issuance, including infrastructure and services ✅ How blockchain-based systems differ from traditional payment infrastructure 💡 Tokenized money is not just about digital tokens. It is the foundation of a new financial ecosystem that could reshape payments, settlements, and cross-border transactions. 🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications to stay updated with the latest episodes of The Legal Insight Podcast.