ICDM, TERAJU, and SCOPE Forge Strategic Alliance to Elevate Sarawak’s Corporate Governance and Bumiputera Economic Participation
This collaborative initiative focuses on this collaboration reinforces Sarawak’s vision of advancing it’s corporate governance landscape to empower local talent and support the state’s trajectory toward becoming a premier economic powerhouse.
Bridging the Gap and Boosting Bumiputera SME’s Participation
A primary objective of this collaboration is to increase Bumiputera Small and Medium Enterprises (“Bumiputera SMEs”) participation in the economy by scaling up high-potential enterprises and enhancing competitiveness in high-growth, high-value (HGHV) industries.
A Vision for Regional Governance Excellence
This timely initiative seeks to strengthen governance and board readiness across the ecosystem - through director and leadership development, building a strong local advisory network, supporting board effectiveness and talent placement, fostering public-private collaboration, and advancing research and thought leadership to elevate governance practices. The partnership represents ICDM’s continued commitment to professionalising boards beyond the Klang Valley.
It is aligned with and supports the Securities Commission Malaysia’s planned pre-IPO readiness programme under Capital Markets Masterplan 2026-2030 that was recently launched, and will focus on preparing high-potential companies - particularly MSMEs and mid-tier firms, for public listing by strengthening governance, financial disclosures, growth strategies, and investor engagement capabilities. It also aims to build a sustainable pipeline of listing-ready Bumiputera companies, expanding access to capital market financing.
Jackie Mah, President & CEO of ICDM, said: “Our expansion into Sarawak is a testament to our belief that world-class governance should not be centralised. By partnering with TERAJU and SCOPE, we are directly supporting Sarawak’s ambition to be a self-sufficient and high-income state. Our focus is on building a strong pipeline of directors, strengthening governance, and supporting businesses in driving strategic growth—equipping professionals with the fiduciary and leadership capabilities needed to lead Sarawak’s next phase of economic development."
Key Pillars of the Collaboration
The collaboration will focus on five strategic areas to emphasis on capacity building and transform the local business landscape:
- Director and Leadership Development: Delivering structured upskilling for business founders and prospective board candidates to strengthen leadership effectiveness.
- Local Governance Talent & Advisory Ecosystem: Strengthening the capabilities of local mentors and practitioners who support Bumiputera companies.
- Board Advisory and Placement: Utilising the Sarawak Directors Registry for board readiness assessments, director screening, and placement support.
- Public-Private Partnership: Advancing governance excellence among Bumiputera enterprises by broadening access to qualified board talent.
- Research and Thought Leadership: Exploring joint research and knowledge-sharing initiatives to promote the wider adoption of good governance practices.
This alliance marks a definitive shift in Sarawak’s economic trajectory, moving beyond mere participation to total leadership in the corporate arena. By bridging the gap between local SMEs and high-growth industries, ICDM, TERAJU, and SCOPE are ensuring that Sarawak’s economic rise is both sustainable and inclusive. This is the new blueprint for regional empowerment—where local governance meets global opportunity.
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About the Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia (ICDM):
The Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia (ICDM) is a membership-based organisation whose mandate is to professionalise directorship in Malaysia. As the national institute of directors (IoD), ICDM is committed to providing continuous professional development - empowering boards and directors with forward-thinking mindsets, practical knowledge and essential competencies. Established by the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) and supported by Bank Negara Malaysia, Bursa Malaysia and the Capital Market Development Fund (CMDF), ICDM's goal is to be the leading influence of excellence in governance and to build a robust corporate governance culture in Malaysia. For more information on ICDM, please visit our website at www.icdm.com.my
About the Sarawak Centre of Performance Excellence (SCOPE):
SCOPE is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sarawak Foundation (Yayasan Sarawak) & Registered Training Provider (RTP) of Human Resource Development Corporation with its primary business to offer and conduct training and developmental programs for Government-Linked Corporations, Statutory Bodies, Local Authorities and Private Sectors in Sarawak. SCOPE’s key priority is providing developmental training in leadership. Nonetheless, we also offer training in niche areas in tandem with the Sarawak Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 three (3) pillars; Economic Prosperity, Social Inclusivity, & Environmental Sustainability.
For any media enquiries, please contact:
Praleena Gengatharan
ICDM Branding & Communications
M: +60 12-516 6120
E: praleena@icdm.com.my
