Seven of 100 top listed firms have all-male boards

PETALING JAYA: Only seven of the top 100 listed companies on Bursa Malaysia Bhd have all-male boards since the start of a campaign by the Securities Commission (SC) to at least have one female representative in these companies, by the end of 2018.

In a statement released yesterday the SC said as at Jan 17, 2018 there has been a 65% improvement in the drive, from just 20 companies as at Dec 31, 2016.

The seven remaining companies are Affin Holdings Bhd, Alliance Bank Bhd, Batu Kawan Bhd, Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd, Genting Plantations Bhd, Genting Malaysia Bhd, and UOA Development Bhd.

The SC and the 30% Club Malaysia are actively engaging these companies.

“The SC understands that some of these companies are taking steps to identify suitable candidates to secure women participation on their boards. Fraser & Neave will be nominating two women candidates to be appointed as board members in their upcoming AGM,” it said.

Moving forward, SC will review and analyse corporate governance disclosures to monitor the level of implementation of corporate governance practices including gender diversity. These observations will be published by the SC through periodic corporate governance thematic reports.

As at Dec 31, 2017, 19.2% of board seats on the top 100 listed companies on Bursa Malaysia were occupied by women; up from 16.6% as at Dec 31, 2016.