Benchmarked against international best practice, the ACGS provides a standard rigorous methodology that can generate comparable information crucial to investors, fund managers, the private sector, the regulators and governments. At present, the ACGS counts six participating ASEAN countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. This program is being done in parallel with other efforts to promote ASEAN as a competitive growth region.
While the ACGS country reports and assessments for 2013–2014 said the performance of ASEAN publicly listed companies in applying recommended corporate governance principles is commendable, continuing improvements are called for. We agree. And all of us should strive to do so in our respective institutions, industries and sectors. Good governance has to be a culture not only within institutions but across our country.