The Malaysian Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (MAICSA) congratulated prime minister, YAB Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on his announcement of a reformed cabinet on 18 March 2008.

“We are confident that the new Cabinet with many new faces who would be responsible, transparent and accountable will carry out the implementation of policies and programmes that will be beneficial to the rakyat and country. Integrity and confidence must be restored to boost our economy that would give more jobs to our small and medium industries (SMIs)”, said MAICSA president Akbar Moidunny.

The Institute also lauded the appointment of Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad as the Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs. “MAICSA will continue to provide its expertise and input in some of the implementation of policies and programmes under the ministry such as the corporate law reform, Malaysian Code of Business Ethics, compliance of laws and regulations pertaining to business and corporate governance initiatives,” added Akbar.

“MAICSA is represented in the steering committee under the ministry to promote and strengthen business ethics and our members are also serving in the various National Integrity Plan task forces,” said Akbar. “As for the corporate law reform process, our members are serving in the corporate law reform committee under the Companies Commission of Malaysia and also the various task forces under the committee,” he further added.

Akbar said that Datuk Shahrir was an excellent choice to lead the ministry based on his vast experience in serving the cabinet and as chairman of the Parliamentary Accounts Committee.

“Datuk Shahrir is an advocator of corporate governance, an area of which MAICSA itself has been championing. Our members, the chartered secretaries are advisors to the board of directors on compliance and corporate governance issues and as such, we will be working very closely with the minister to ensure that these are properly carried out,” said Akbar.

MAICSA also welcomed the appointment of Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim as the de facto law minister in the Prime Minister’s department based on his good legal background. “The Institute is confident that Datuk Zaid would be able to restore the rakyat’s confidence in the judiciary system of the country,” ended Akbar.