The Star daily said brokers argued that an earlier closing time would address the mid-afternoon lull that occurs before trade picks up in the final hour.

The stock market is currently open from 9am-12.30pm and then resumes between 2.30pm and 5pm. Many regional bourses close in the mid-afternoon.

'If they cannot promote more trading volume for the market, they should reduce the time,' the Remisiers Association of Malaysia president Sam Ng told the daily.

'Shorter trading hours would give us more time to meet with clients and advise them on investment decisions. Right now we are just sitting in our offices and waiting to 'die',' he joked.

Malaysia's stock market, which has long been plagued by low turnover, has been under pressure in recent months due to the US slowdown and domestic political woes after the government's unprecedented losses in March elections. -- AFP