CDS Account Fees & Trading Costs at M+ — Complete Guide to Charges
Among the most frequently asked questions by prospective investors are "how much does it cost to open a CDS account?" and "I already have a CDS account, can I open another one?". This article explains all fees related to CDS account opening, stock trading costs, and what to do if you already have an existing CDS account.
CDS Account Opening Fee
Opening a CDS account through M+ requires a one-time payment:
| Item | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| CDS opening fee | RM 10 | Payment to Bursa Malaysia (not to Mahersaham) |
| Processing charge | RM 1 (SST) | Service tax |
| Total | RM 11 | Paid via online banking during registration |
Important: The RM 11 fee is a Bursa Malaysia CDS registration fee. Mahersaham does not charge any additional fees for registration.
Payment FAQ
Payment stuck / failed: If RM 11 has been deducted from your bank but the registration is still stuck, log back into the M+Global app and continue the payment process there. Do not re-register as you may be charged twice.
RM 11 refund if rejected: If your registration is rejected, you are entitled to a refund of RM 11. The refund process can take 2–4 weeks. If you have not received it after that period, email M+ customer service directly with your payment receipt.
Need to pay again? If your first registration was rejected and you need to re-register, you usually do not need to pay again as long as corrections are made on the same form. If a new form is submitted, a new payment may be required.
Stock Trading Costs (Bursa Malaysia)
Once your CDS account is active, here are the costs for each stock transaction:
| Fee Type | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Brokerage Fee | Min RM 8 or 0.08% | Charged for each buy & sell transaction |
| Clearing Fee | 0.03% (max RM 1,000) | Payment to Bursa Clearing |
| Stamp Duty | RM 1 per RM 1,000 contract value | Minimum RM 1. Exempted for certain stocks |
| SST (6%) | 6% on brokerage fee | Service tax |
Cost Calculation Example
Example: Buying 100 lots of stock at RM 1.00 (total = RM 10,000)
| Fee | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Brokerage Fee | RM 10,000 × 0.08% = RM 8 (minimum) | RM 8.00 |
| Clearing Fee | RM 10,000 × 0.03% | RM 3.00 |
| Stamp Duty | RM 10,000 ÷ 1,000 × RM 1 | RM 10.00 |
| SST | RM 8 × 6% | RM 0.48 |
| Total Cost (Buy) | RM 21.48 |
The same costs apply when selling. So total buy + sell cost ≈ RM 42.96 for a RM 10,000 transaction.
Tip: Check the Contract Note in the M+ app after each transaction to see the exact cost breakdown. Don't calculate manually — M+ automatically computes all costs.
Reserve Buffer When Depositing
Many clients are surprised when they deposit RM 1,000 but the Available Trading Limit shows less than RM 1,000. This is because:
- M+ will reserve a portion of funds (typically 1.3%) as a buffer to cover transaction costs (brokerage, clearing fee, stamp duty, SST)
- Example: Deposit RM 5,000 → Available Trading Limit ≈ RM 4,935 (RM 65 reserved)
- This buffer is not a fixed charge — it will be returned if unused
This is a normal M+ process and not a technical issue.
Global Stock Trading Costs (US Stocks)
If you trade US stocks through M+Global:
| Fee Type | Rate |
|---|---|
| Commission | USD 0.01/share (min USD 1) |
| Platform Fee | USD 1 per order |
| Settlement Fee | USD 0.003/share |
| SEC Fee (sell only) | USD 24.90 per million |
Note: Rates may change. Check the latest fee schedule on the M+Global app or official M+ website.
Already Have a CDS Account — What Are Your Options?
If you already have an existing CDS account, here are the common situations:
Situation 1: Already Have CDS with Another Broker
You can open a new CDS account with M+ even if you already have a CDS with another broker (e.g., Affin Hwang, RHB, Maybank). Each broker has a separate CDS account.
Situation 2: Already Have CDS with M+ (Different Remisier)
You cannot open a new CDS account with M+ if you already have one under a different remisier. You need to go through the remisier transfer process.
- Contact the Mahersaham team at t.me/mahersahamplatform
- The remisier transfer process takes a few business days
- Read the full guide: How to Change Remisier
Situation 3: Have Old CDS But Not Active (Dormant)
If your CDS account has not been used for a long time:
- Inactive status — Can be reactivated without charge. Log in to the M+ app and follow the activation process
- Dormant status — Reactivation incurs a RM 5.00 fee from Bursa Malaysia
- Read the guide: CDS Account Activation Guide
Situation 4: Have M+Global Account But No Bursa CDS
If you only registered M+Global for US stocks but don't have a CDS for Bursa Malaysia yet, you need to complete the CDS registration. This is done within the same M+Global registration process.
Annual Fees & Other Charges
| Fee Type | Amount | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Annual CDS fee | None | No annual fee for standard CDS accounts |
| Dormant fee | RM 5 | Charged if a dormant account needs reactivation |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Withdrawing funds from M+ to bank — free |
| Deposit fee | Free (≥ RM 100) | Deposits below RM 100 are charged RM 1 per transaction |
| Cancel order fee | Free | No charge for cancelling unmatched orders |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Mahersaham charge any fees to become a client?
No. Mahersaham does not charge any additional fees. All costs are standard rates set by Bursa Malaysia and M+.
Why is my brokerage fee higher than RM 8?
The minimum brokerage fee is RM 8. For larger transactions (above RM 10,000), the fee is calculated as 0.08% of the transaction value. Example: RM 50,000 × 0.08% = RM 40.
How many times am I charged for partially matched orders?
If your order is partially matched on the same day, the brokerage fee is charged once. If matched across different days, fees are calculated separately for each day.
Is intraday (buy and sell on the same day) charged differently?
The fee rates are the same. The difference is that intraday means you pay buy + sell costs on the same day.
Which stocks are exempt from stamp duty?
Bursa Malaysia exempts stamp duty for a specific list of stocks. Check the latest list on the Bursa Malaysia website.
Need help? Contact our team at t.me/mahersahamplatform for any questions about fees and costs.
This article was written by Wan Mahersaham, a registered M+ Online remisier, as a reference for investors to understand the costs associated with stock investing.