The Bank of China first established its presence in Malaya with the opening of its Penang office in 1939. As its business grew, the bank set up additional branches in Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Seremban and Batu Pahat. Further expansion was halted when the bank had to abruptly cease its operations in newly-independent Malaya in 1959 following new government legislation that forbade foreign government-controlled banks from operating in the country. The Kuala Lumpur branch office, housed in a three-storey building at Old Market Square, was taken over by the Bank of Tokyo that same year. The bank’s hiatus from Malaysia ended in 2001 when it resumed operations as the Bank of China (Malaysia) Berhad.
