Transparency index set to rise further, says MSWG

KUALA LUMPUR: The Transparency Index of Malaysia’s top 100 public-listed companies (PLCs) is expected to see a further increase and possibly hit 82 points this year, said the Minority Shareholders Watchdog Group (MSWG).
Its CEO, Rita Benoy Bushon, said the index’s uptrend, which it has experienced for the past four years, would continue if more firms disclose the minutes of their annual general meetings.
“Sixteen Malaysian PLCs have just started sharing the summaries of the minutes of the proceedings. This year, since it is going to be in Bursa Malaysia’s listing requirements, I think the trend (for the index) will be going upwards,” she said on the sidelines of MSWG’s Hari Raya gathering here yesterday.
Rita said disclosing the minutes has been a very important element of transparency with Bursa Malaysia starting next year requiring all companies to disclose their summaries of the proceedings.
“The PLCs’ websites, which many have now started to display investors’ relation pages about the company, will soon carry the minutes,” she said.
She said the index has been trending upward, from 68.2 points in 2012 to 80.41 points last year.
On the index performance’s within Asean, she said, Malaysia was ranked number two behind Thailand.
“I believed Thailand was top because of its disclosure of the minutes. Their companies disclosed quite alot and in detail,” she said. – Bernama