Towards a Unified Mission for Wider Impact:
The Merger of Mandates Between ICDM and MICG
This unified mandate brings together the knowledge and legacy of both entities into a single platform to amplify thought leadership and advocacy in governance through research, dialogue, and engagement
Kuala Lumpur, 24 June 2026 — The Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia (ICDM) and the Malaysian Institute of Corporate Governance (MICG) today announced the consolidation of their mandates, combining nearly three decades of governance advocacy and director professionalisation under a single, unified platform.
Established in 1998, MICG has spent 27 years advancing corporate governance in Malaysia through advocacy, education, research, dialogue, and capability development across the corporate, public and private sectors. Through this initiative, its legacy contributions will transition into ICDM’s established role as Malaysia’s national institute of directors, whose mandate is to professionalise directors and elevate the standards of board leadership. This will also reduce fragmentation and further strengthen the Malaysian corporate governance landscape through the unification of MICG and ICDM’s respective expertise in upholding corporate governance standards and director development, anchoring on three core pillars – National level Advocacy, Applied Research and Comprehensive Training and Development.
“In a time of disruption and intense scrutiny, the role of boards demands more than oversight — it requires vision, agility and a deep commitment to long-term value creation”, said Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar, Chairman of ICDM.
“The consolidation will strengthen Malaysia’s governance ecosystem and unify our efforts under one platform. MICG has long been a driving force in governance advocacy, and by combining its foundational work with our efforts to professionalise directorship and advance board effectiveness, this unified approach will address the evolving needs of boards. It will also be a catalyst for innovation and thought leadership that will support sustainable and high-performing businesses”, she added.
ICDM’s new, dedicated hub positioned as a ‘Centre of Excellence’ will be established as a national platform to drive governance leadership, research and innovation. It will serve as a coordinated hub to curate impactful initiatives, produce actionable insights, convene stakeholders and strengthen policy dialogue to support organisations across the full spectrum of the business landscape. This will ensure that resources for governance excellence and effective leadership are not limited to large corporations but are accessible and relevant to businesses of all sizes and maturity levels, cutting across the private and public sectors and encompassing PLCs, SMEs, MTCs, professional associations, and other organisations.
Sujatha Sekhar Naik, Chairman of MICG, added, “For nearly three decades, MICG has championed sound corporate governance, striving to embed it as a cornerstone of sustainable business practice. This merger is a strategic and forward-looking transition that ensures this critical mandate is carried forward with strength.
“MICG's strategic blueprint had envisaged further strengthening its advocacy work and building independent, in-depth research on the governance challenges faced by the public and private sectors. ICDM’s proposed Centre of Excellence will now encompass this vision and take it forward. We are entrusting MICG's foundational advocacy work to ICDM's platform for director professionalisation. We do so with full confidence that this consolidation will not only preserve MICG's legacy but amplify its impact, ensuring that governance and integrity remain powerful drivers of Malaysia's long-term growth and resilience”.
MICG’s full training portfolio will be seamlessly transferred to and continued under ICDM’s training arm, ensuring continuity for all current participants and members, enhancing the outreach, consistency, and impact of these vital programmes in strengthening corporate governance practices nationwide.
The merger of mandates was formally approved by MICG members at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held on 24 June 2026. A structured, fair, and transparent transition process for MICG members is now underway to bring them into the ICDM membership framework through a dedicated process, ensuring continuity of services and benefits. This exercise is expected to be operationally completed by Q4 2026 to ensure all stakeholder needs are met. As part of this consolidation process, MICG will take the necessary steps towards a members’ voluntary winding-up, marking the orderly and final conclusion of its institutional operations as its mandate continues forward under ICDM.
Strategically, ICDM President and Chief Executive Officer Jackie Mah emphasised, “Our focus is twofold: first, to ensure a smooth integration while continuing all of MICG’s existing programmes and advocacy effort; and second, to strengthen corporate governance across all sectors, and build long-term capabilities within the ecosystem. We are launching high-impact benchmarks such as The Board Director Blueprint, a critical initiative poised to elevate corporate governance standards throughout the ASEAN region. From corporates to SMEs, ICDM will continue to serve as a one-stop platform for director development whilst providing holistic coverage across the corporate governance pathway, building on the combined strengths of both organisations.”
This visionary consolidation attests to a shared commitment to excellence, purposeful stewardship, and long-term ecosystem resilience in embedding the ethos of governance in society.
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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 Malaysian Institute of Corporate Governance (MICG):
Established in March 1998 in response to recommendations by the government's High-Level Finance Committee on Corporate Governance, the Malaysian Institute of Corporate Governance (MICG) is a membership-based organisation dedicated to advancing corporate governance and sustainability in Malaysia. MICG's members span corporate entities and individuals across the private and public sectors. Through capacity-building programmes, thought leadership, advocacy, and strategic partnerships with regulators and stakeholders across the corporate landscape, from listed companies and GLCs to SMEs, professional associations, and non-profit organisations, MICG promotes ethical leadership, transparency, and accountability in business practice. For more information, please visit www.micg.org.my
For any media enquiries, please contact:
Praleena Gengatharan
ICDM Branding & Communications
M: +60 12-516 6120
E: praleena@icdm.com.my
Nur Amalia Rosshaimi
Narro Communications
M: +60 17-630 0314
E: amalia@narrocomms.com
Sujatha Sekhar Naik
Malaysian Institute of Corporate Governance
E: sujatha@micg.org.my
