SOUTH-EAST Asia's bourses are working to develop electronic trading links but are unlikely to merge, as suggested by a top Malaysian banker, said Bursa Malaysia yesterday.

Said the Malaysian stock-market operator's chief executive, Mr Yusli Mohamad Yusoff: 'It's a good idea but, personally, I think it is going to be a challenge (for it) to become reality. There are no plans at the moment.'

The comments by the Bursa CEO come a week after Mr Nazir Razak, the brother of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, called for a merger of the Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia bourses to create a larger and more liquid Asian stock market.

Mr Nazir is chief executive of CIMB, Malaysia's second-largest banking group.

Mr Yusli said Bursa recognised that there was a need to boost liquidity in Malaysia's stock market, and the Malaysian operator was working with its counterparts in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines to develop electronic trading links.

This would allow cross-border trading and help make the region more attractive to international investors.