What I Learned from a Bad Investment

(Thanks to the Hidden Hands of Bursa Malaysia)

It all started with a candlestick.

Well, a few green ones actually — tall, convincing, full-bodied, backed by volume. It looked like a textbook breakout. It had all the markings of a “winner.” And in that moment, I thought to myself, “This one’s going to moon.”

Spoiler alert: it didn’t.

In fact, that trade ended up being one of the biggest tuition fees I’ve ever paid on Bursa Malaysia.

And looking back, I’m not even mad anymore. Just wiser. And maybe a bit humbled — which is never a bad thing when you’re dealing with a market that doesn’t care about your dreams, only your discipline.

Here’s the full story of my bad investment — and what I learned when I finally stopped blaming the chart and started looking inward.

The Setup: All Green Lights

Let’s call the stock “XYZ Bhd” — no need to name and shame (it’s not about the counter, it’s about the lesson). XYZ had everything going for it:

• Strong breakout above resistance
• Daily MACD just crossed up
• RSI wasn’t yet overbought
• News of a big contract floating around Telegram
• And let’s not forget — the crowd was screaming, “Confirm go 0.70!”

I entered at 0.595. Felt good about it too.

For two days, it held. 

Then the volume started thinning. Then the buying walls disappeared. Then came the sell queue avalanche. Before I could blink, 0.595 became 0.54.

The Warning Signs I Chose to Ignore

Looking back, the red flags were waving in my face. I just didn’t want to see them.

• Volume wasn’t sustainable – It surged, then dropped like a rock.
• No follow-up news – That “contract news” vanished after one vague mention.
• Buying support was artificial – Classic “stack-and-pull” from operators.
• Top 30 shareholders didn’t change – I checked Bursa announcements. Nada.

But most of all? 

My gut told me something was off.

And I silenced it with hope.

The Downfall

Within four trading days, the stock closed at 0.505.

That’s about a 15% drop, or what I call emotional tax on poor decision-making.

I didn’t set a stop-loss. I was “investing,” remember? Not trading. 

At least, that’s what I told myself. 

Truthfully, I didn’t want to admit I got caught in a pump and dump.

My portfolio bled.

My ego bled more.

And worst of all — my confidence took a hit.

Five Lessons the Market Tattooed on My Soul

1. Hype ≠ Value

If everyone on Telegram is shouting about it… someone’s probably unloading it.

I chased the noise. Not the fundamentals. Not the price action. Just the noise.

2. Bursa Has “Hidden Hands”

Let’s not be naive. Syndicates exist. Insiders move early. Volume can be manufactured. The game isn’t always fair — but it’s always winnable if you know how it’s rigged.

3. A Trade Without a Plan Is a Gamble

No TP. No SL. No exit strategy.

What I did wasn’t trading. It was donating.

4. Emotional Trading Will Wreck You

I saw red and panicked. I held on to hope instead of reason. That’s the worst place to be in the market — in love with your position.

5. Every Loss Is Paid Tuition

This wasn’t a loss. It was a lesson I paid for. 

And honestly? RM1,500 to learn not to repeat the same mistake again? 

Worth it.

The Pivot

After licking my wounds, I changed my whole approach.

• I stopped entering based on hearsay.
• I set automatic stop-losses.
• I studied market structure — HH, HL, exhaustion dips, EMA50, CCI.
• I marked support/resistance on the weekly. Waited for MACD signals on the daily.
• I watched operator behavior instead of reacting to volume.

It wasn’t perfect, but I was no longer blind.

Now, I enter fewer trades. But I sleep better.

To Anyone Holding the Bag Right Now…

You might be reading this while staring at a stock that's already 20–30% below your entry.

You’re not alone.

Here’s what I’ll say to you — don’t stay stuck just to prove a point.

Hope isn’t a strategy. Neither is denial.

Either:

* Cut loss and move on

* Or rebalance with a proper plan, not pride

And if you’re holding because you still believe in the fundamentals? 

That’s fine — but check in with yourself. Are you being honest about it? Or are you just avoiding the pain of being wrong?

We’ve all been there.

And you’ll get through it too.

What I’d Tell My Past Self

If I could time-travel back to the moment I clicked “Buy” on XYZ Bhd, I’d whisper three things:

> “The chart is not a crystal ball.”

> “Volume lies. So do forums.”

> “Know your exits before you enter.”

And maybe, just maybe — I’d walk away from the trade completely.

Final Thoughts

Bursa Malaysia isn’t just a market — it’s a maze. A poker game. A psychological battlefield.

There are hidden hands at play, no doubt. But that doesn’t mean we’re helpless.

It just means we have to be smarter.

More skeptical.

Less reactive.

More strategic.

If you’ve paid your “tuition” like I did, good. That means you’re in the game. 

Just promise yourself one thing:

Don’t pay the same tuition twice.

Because in the end, it’s not about never losing.

It’s about losing well — and learning hard.

See you at the next candle 😉