Programme Overview
Anti-corruption governance is ultimately a boardroom responsibility. While policies, controls and compliance frameworks provide an important foundation, their effectiveness is tested when commercial pressures, relationships and competing interests challenge an organisation’s commitment to integrity. For boards, the critical question is not simply whether an anti-corruption framework exists, but whether it works when it matters.
Malaysia’s corporate liability provisions under Section 17A of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 have heightened the importance of effective oversight of corruption risk. Directors need to understand the implications of the regulatory framework and be satisfied that appropriate measures are not merely documented, but embedded, monitored and operating effectively throughout the organisation.
This requires boards to look beyond compliance reporting and consider where corruption risks can arise in the way business is conducted. Procurement decisions, third-party relationships, conflicts of interest, nepotism, commercial pressures and the handling of whistleblowing reports can all expose weaknesses that may not be immediately visible through conventional board reporting.
Effective oversight therefore depends on the board’s ability to ask the right questions, recognise warning signs and challenge management constructively. Directors must consider whether reporting provides sufficient visibility of emerging risks, whether concerns can be escalated without fear, and whether organisational culture reinforces integrity even when doing so may conflict with short-term commercial objectives.
Through facilitated discussion and practical scenarios, this focused programme enables directors to examine anti-corruption governance through a boardroom lens. Participants will consider how boards can strengthen oversight, challenge and accountability while ensuring that the organisation’s approach to corruption prevention and detection remains effective in practice.
Learning outcome
By the end of this programme, participants will be able to:
Explain the responsibilities of directors and senior management under Malaysia’s anti-corruption framework.
Understand the latest developments on Section 17A and related matters.
Assess whether their organisation’s anti-corruption measures operate effectively in practice.
Evaluate governance, oversight and organisational culture in relation to procurement risk, conflicts of interest, nepotism and whistleblowing reporting.
Identify practical measures to strengthen corruption prevention, detection and senior-level accountability.
Determine practical actions that boards and senior leadership can take to strengthen prevention, detection, escalation and accountability across the organisation.
Who Should Attend
Board Directors and Independent Non-Executive Directors
Board and Board Committee Members, including Audit and Risk Committee Members
Senior Leaders with significant governance, risk and assurance responsibilities
