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The purpose of this paper is to investigate Malaysian companies’ compliance with mandatory accounting standards. Specifically, this study examines the efficacy of agency-related mechanisms on the degree of compliance with Financial Reporting Standards (FRS) 101, Presentation of Financial Statements. It so proceeds by focussing on corporate governance parameters (board characteristics and ownership structure) and other firm characteristics.

Using data drawn from a sample of 105 Malaysian companies listed on the ACE market in 2009, the authors employ multiple regression analysis models to establish whether selected corporate governance and company-specific characteristics (proxying for agency-related mechanisms) are related to the degree of disclosure compliance.

The results indicate that the overall disclosure compliance is high (92.5 per cent). Furthermore, only firm size is positively associated with the degree of compliance. The other variables, those consisting of board independence, audit committee independence, CEO duality, the extent of outside blockholders’ ownership and leverage, do not show any significant relationship with the degree of compliance.

This study focusses on only one accounting standard (FRS 101) that is mandatory in Malaysia. FRS 101 is both structured and rigid, leaving no room for companies to conceal any particular information. The sample of Malaysian companies selected is restricted to those listed only on the ACE market. As such, the results cannot be generalised to every company in Malaysia.

These results have important implications for policy makers because they suggest that whilst agency-related mechanisms may motivate compliance with mandatory standards, full compliance may be unattainable without regulations.

This is the only study in Malaysia to investigate the impact of regulatory requirements on corporate compliance level by companies listed on the new ACE market, which was introduced by the Bursa Malaysia in August 2009. This study contributes to the literature by examining the effects of both company-specific characteristics (such as company size, company age, liquidity, etc.) and corporate governance parameters on the degree of corporate compliance with mandatory disclosure, simultaneously, in contrast with prior studies which have examined them in isolation.

This study surveyed the perceptions of users and preparers of Corporate Annual Reports (CAR) regarding graphical information (GI) disclosed in the CAR. Questionnaires were used and sent to (i) 120 selected users, and (ii) 489 CFO of non‐financial companies listed on the main board of Bursa Malaysia for the year 2002. It was found that users ranked GI as second after financial statements. The users of CAR utilized GI to evaluate company’s performance overtime, make comparison with other companies and assist in making investment decision. The KFV graphs preferred are sales, earnings, EPS, share price performance, and cash flow graphs. More than fifty percent of users believed that graphs disclosed in CAR are sufficient. The survey also revealed that 75.4 percent of Malaysian companies included graphs in their CAR. They disclosed sales, earning per share, shareholders fund, earnings, and net tangible assets. These variables were presented in bar, line, pie, and column. However, the most popular type of graph was bar. The perceived major users of GI are mainly financial analysts, potential investors and financial investors. The preparers indicated that the main reasons that hinder companies from disclosing GI in CAR are due to the sufficiency of the existing numerical and narrative disclosure, and inexistence of formal guideline regarding the construction of graphs. The findings also revealed that users were more aware of fundamental principle of graphs construction than the preparers based on the mean scores by both group on the criterion of good construction of graph. Overall, the survey evidenced that graphs are appreciated by both parties as an alternative way of communicating information in a more effective manner.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of intellectual capital (IC) on the performance of Malaysian automotive manufacturing firms. It also examines the role of strategic thinking (ST) as a moderating variable in the relationship between IC and performance in these firms.

This study used a quantitative approach, with an initial sample of 228 firms in Malaysia. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was employed to test the study hypotheses.

The results of the PLS-SEM analysis are as follows: Human capital (HC) and relational capital (RC) have significant effect on performance, but not structural capital (SC). ST has no moderating effect on the relationship between RC or SC and performance although it does moderate the relationship between performance and HC.

Together with the government, CEOs hold responsibility for ensuring that organizations practice effective ST and IC. With the assistance of government, CEOs should exert every effort to be leaders in this matter. In addition, CEOs of automotive manufacturing firm should reduce their emphasis on classical ways of managing organizations processes.

The findings offer guidance to automotive firms considering how to develop IC and ST to improve performance, especially in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.

This is the first study to examine the moderating effect of ST on the relationship between IC and performance worldwide.