PwC in the news
Latest media coverage
- 2 December: Sustainability, corporate governance make good bedfellows (The Malaysian Reserve)
With the growing decline in public trust in the aftermath of the global financial crisis, boards are increasingly under pressure to step up in their role as corporate governance stewards, says PwC Malaysia sustainability and climate change manager Adelene Anthony.
- 25 November: Parenting 101 (The Edge Malaysia)
PwC Malaysia marketing and communications senior manager Stephanie Caunter shares about her parenting experiences and how her role as a team leader at PwC has helped her to be more flexible to her daughter’s needs.
- 4 November: Taking the bold and progressive route (The Edge Malaysia)
Budget 2014 introduces the most comprehensive fiscal reform we have seen in recent times, including the announcement of GST to reduce our reliance on direct taxes, says PwC Malaysia tax leader Jagdev Singh.
- November: Drivers of change (ACCA Accounting and Business Malaysia)
PwC Malaysia executive chairman Mohammad Faiz Azmi addresses some of the key issues shaping the accounting profession during ACCA’s CFO Breakfast Talk Series, organised in collaboration with PwC and based on the highlights from ACCA’s ‘100 Drivers of Change for the Global Accountancy Profession’ report. This includes growing skill sets that aren’t typically part of the accountant’s remit, enhancing trust, and getting the finance function recognised as more than just a compliance function.
- November: Tools for growth (ACCA Accounting and Business Malaysia)
Sustainability is still at an embryonic stage in Malaysia. Companies are still moving up the learning curve and finding their own way of doing things, says PwC Malaysia executive director Jack Cunningham.
- 31 October: Some prices unchanged post-goods and services tax (The Star)
PwC's tax consultants address various queries from The Star readers on the 2014 budget provisions including the price effects of GST on goods and services, the reduction in corporate and individual tax rates in line with the introduction of GST, and incentives for corporates offering flexible working arrangements (FWA). This is the second article of a two part Budget Q&A series following the 2014 Budget announcement.
- 30 October: Do you understand the goods and services tax and how it affects you? (The Star)
PwC's tax consultants address various queries from The Star readers on the 2014 budget provisions including the impact of GST on consumers and businesses, incentives for lower middle income taxpayers and real property gains tax measures. This is the first article of a two part Budget Q&A series following the 2014 Budget announcement.
- 28 October: Support - The untold truth (The Edge Malaysia)
Companies should be sensitive to the needs of working mothers, especially first-time mums returning to work after maternity leave, says PwC Malaysia marketing and communications senior manager Stephanie Caunter.
- 26 October: Budget 2014: Budget reaction & impact (The Star)
With less than 18 months to go before GST goes live, corporates need to assess the impact on their existing business models and strategies and start preparations early so that they have a much smoother implementation process, says PwC Malaysia managing partner Sridharan Nair.
- 25 October: 2014: GST implementation in April 2015, reasonable - Wahid (New Straits Times)
The 2014 Budget addresses one of the most comprehensive reforms to reduce Malaysia's fiscal deficit and manage its debt level; as such, the country is well-positioned for fiscal reforms and becoming a high-income nation, says PwC Malaysia managing partner Sridharan Nair.
Note: The article was first published in Bernama.
- 25 October: 'Tax reduction possible after introduction of GST' (The Edge Financial Daily)
A gradual reduction of corporate and personal income taxes can only be expected to occur after the introduction of GST, says Chartered Tax Institution of Malaysia president and PwC Malaysia senior executive director SM Thanneermalai.
- 22 October: Easing the burden of the urban middle class (The Sun)
The government needs to provide assistance to the urban middle class to address the rising cost of living, says Chartered Tax Institute of Malaysia president and PwC Malaysia senior executive director SM Thanneermalai.
- 21 October: Need to adopt a targeted, sustainable approach (The Sun)
The government needs to adopt a targeted approach to address the needs of the middle income group and ensure that the quality of life of the rakyat is not compromised, says PwC Malaysia tax leader Jagdev Singh
- 21 October: Real impact of GST on cost of living (The Star)
How does GST differ from our current sales tax and service tax? Raja Kumaran and Tim Simpson, PwC Malaysia executive director and consultant respectively, illustrate how GST works and how it adds up to a more transparent tax for consumers.
- 18 October: GST shouldn't be delayed, says PwC (The Sun)
PwC Malaysia senior executive director Wan Heng Choon says that the challenges in dealing with the country's budget deficit will increase or worsen, potentially resulting in a further downgrade by global rating agency Fitch Ratings, if GST is not implemented soon.
- 18 October: Bring back pre-2007 RPGT (The Sun)
The government should bring back the rates for the real property gains tax (RPGT) that were introduced prior to 2007 to effectively curb property speculation and control rising property prices, says PwC Malaysia senior executive director Steve Chia.
- 18 October: Implement GST when economy is in growth stage (New Straits Times)
PwC Malaysia senior executive director Wan Heng Choon says the government should not wait for the global economic crisis to end before implementing GST.
- 18 October: GST rate should be at 6% (The Edge Malaysia)
PwC Malaysia senior executive director Wan Heng Choon explains why the indicative rate for the country's goods and services tax (GST) should be 6% when implemented.
- 18 October: Information, clarity vital in carrying out GST (The Star)
Businesses need to have information and clarity on the introduction of GST early on, in order to make the necessary preparations, says PwC Malaysia senior executive director Wan Heng Choon.
- 17 October: Malaysia should look at capital gains tax too (The Malaysian Reserve)
Malaysia should explore the possibilities of introducing new tax mechanisms besides GST. This includes the capital gains tax and offshore income gains tax, to widen the country's tax collection base, says PwC Malaysia senior executive director SM Thanneermalai.
- 14 October: Can we afford to reduce tax rates? (The Edge Malaysia)
PwC Malaysia tax leader Jagdev Singh weighs in on GST and whether the revenue potentially generated by this broad-based tax will be sufficient to buffer the fall in tax revenue in the event of a reduction in corporate and individual tax rates.
- 12 October: Time to reform tax penalties? (Focus Malaysia)
A well-structured and equitable penalty system is crucial to encourage voluntary compliance with tax laws and payment of taxes, says PwC Malaysia senior executive director Phan Wai Kuan.
- 11 October: Making Malaysia 'greener' (The Malaysian Reserve)
The government should recognise green technology as a new driver for economic growth as it offers significant opportunities and potential for cost savings, economic creation and innovation, says PwC Malaysia senior executive director Steve Chia.
- 2 October: Budget 2014 -Our immediate priority (The Sun)
The government's immediate priority during Budget 2014 should be to address the needs of 90% of the population who are earning less than RM5,000 a month, says Chartered Tax Institute of Malaysia president and PwC Malaysia senior executive director SM Thanneermalai.
- October: Toolkit or fad? (ACCA Accounting and Business Malaysia)
Many local and international firms in Malaysia are becoming more strategic about sustainability but for the most part, businesses still expect that sustainability must have an immediate 'payback', says PwC Malaysia executive director Jack Cunningham.
- September – October: Forensic Accountants: Specialists in demand (The Malaysian Accountant)
Companies are recognising the importance of forensic accountants in providing the Board and management with an independent and expert view on fraud and other aspects of investigative accounting, says PwC Malaysia executive director Alex Tan. This article appears in The Malaysian Accountant journal, published by The Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA).
- 30 September: Budget 2014: Quantum leaps in enhancements to current tax incentives necessary (The Star)
PwC Malaysia executive director Benedict Francis shares his Budget 2014 wish list and highlights what needs to be done for the government to effectively address Malaysia’s fiscal deficit.
- 28 September: TalentCorp: Supporting transformation agenda focusing on key priority sectors (myStarjob)
Working together with TalentCorp has helped improve PwC’s own employee value proposition and given us more insights into the human capital innovation taking place in Malaysia, says PwC Malaysia managing partner Sridharan Nair.
- 23 September: Work at my desk or Starbucks? (The Edge Malaysia)
Flexible work arrangements may still be a relatively new concept in Malaysia. But organisations need to evolve to meet the changing needs of the workforce especially the Gen Y who increasingly expect workplace flexibility, says PwC Malaysia marketing and communications senior manager Stephanie Caunter.
- 23 September: Middle income pain gets worse: Taxing issues (The Edge Malaysia)
The government should consider widening the income tax bands as a medium-term measure to ease the tax burden of middle-income earners, says PwC Malaysia tax leader Jagdev Singh.
- 17 September: Goods and services tax – it’s on our doorstep (The Sun)
If GST is to be introduced during Budget 2014, it will have to be part of the fiscal reforms package to address Malaysia’s fiscal deficit, says Chartered Tax Institute of Malaysia president and PwC Malaysia senior executive director SM Thanneermalai.
- 12 September: Running and sweating for a good cause (The Edge Financial Daily)
PwC Malaysia is participating in the KL Rat Race for the 13th time this year. It makes sense to run for a good cause, says PwC Malaysia assurance leader Pauline Ho. Besides giving back to the community, the event also allows me to interact with the other participants, she adds.
- 9 September: More challenges for boards (The Edge Malaysia)
It’s critical for boards to understand and be involved in shaping company strategy, says PwC Hong Kong senior advisor David Eldon. PwC Malaysia Executive Chairman Mohammad Faiz Azmi also comments on the increasing acceptance of Board effectiveness reviews (BER) among companies in Malaysia
- 7 September: Economists say GST likely to be implemented in 2015 (The Star)
The GST presents an opportunity for businesses to reduce their operating costs which in turn gives them the ability to lower selling prices, says PwC Malaysia senior executive director Wan Heng Choon.
- 7 September: Will GST finally come in 2015? (Focus Malaysia)
As the GST is a consumption tax, it will provide a more stable revenue for the country, says PwC Malaysia senior executive director S.M. Thanneermalai
- 6 September: Roundtable brings sustainable development under the microscope
(The Malaysian Reserve)
Malaysia needs a clearer roadmap for sustainable development, especially if it is to meet the 2020 target to reduce carbon emissions by 40%, says PwC Malaysia executive director Jack Cunningham at The Malaysian Reserve’s Managing Malaysia Series: Green Growth Roundtable recently.
- 2 September: Helping grads prepare for work (The Edge Malaysia)
To attract and engage graduates, we need to offer them something they are looking for. This includes soft skills such as interview skills and communication skills to equip them for the real world, says PwC Malaysia’s head of resourcing Mona Abu Bakar.
- September: Connecting the dots (ACCA Accounting and Business Malaysia)
Integrated reporting enables companies to define their own story in a more coherent and strategic manner, says PwC Malaysia managing partner Sridharan Nair at a recent forum on integrated reporting organised by Bursa Malaysia and ACCA.
- September: Top of the World (Her World)
Employers don’t recognise the importance of championing women’s advancement, viewing it merely as a gender issue instead of a business opportunity. That is why there are so few women in leadership positions in Malaysia, says PwC Malaysia markets leader Chin Suit Fang.
- 30 August: GST benefits far outweigh costs, say analyst (New Straits Times)
Implementing the GST early will help to reduce uncertainties for businesses, says PwC Malaysia senior executive director Wan Heng Choon.
- 28 August: Enjoying the best of both worlds (The Star)
PwC Malaysia assurance senior manager Johanna Ramli reminisces about her university days and how it motivated her to pursue audit as a career choice.
- 19 August: Lean in, millennials. Lean in, leaders (The Edge Malaysia)
Gender diversity matters in Malaysia not because we pity women, or want to be nice, but because it’s a real business issue, says PwC Malaysia marketing and communications senior manager Stephanie Caunter.
- 19 August: Many ways to make housing affordable, says PwC Capital (The Edge Malaysia)
Affordable housing should be a priority for the public and private sector, as well as civil society. Addressing the core issue, which is construction costs, will help solve a lot of problems and reduce government spending, says PwC Malaysia executive director Andrew Chan Yik Hong.
- 13 August: PwC forms new consulting JV (The Sun)
With the launch of PwC's new South East Asian Consulting joint venture, PwC is set to grow our consulting business and take on new opportunities in this region, says PwC Malaysia managing partner Sridharan Nair.
- 12 August: Big data - there's bite in them bytes (The Edge)
Businesses need to have a big data strategy in place that is formulated with fraud prevention and detection in mind, says PwC Malaysia associate director Neil Meikle.
- 12 August: Flexible work arrangements (The Edge Malaysia)
Trust and clear expectations on KPIs and outcomes need to be in place for programmes such as flexible work arrangements to succeed, says PwC Malaysia managing partner, Sridharan Nair.
- 12 August: Integrated reporting gives better picture of company's worth (The Edge Financial Daily )
PwC Malaysia managing partner Sridharan Nair says that companies should also look at ways of communicating what may be useful to shareholders in terms of value creation and not just focus on complying with regulations and standards in their reporting.
- August: Islamic peg in the IFRS hole (Accountancy Futures, Issue 7, 2013)
The International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) need to accommodate Islamic finance transactions in the global marketplace, says PwC Malaysia executive chairman Mohammad Faiz Azmi.
- July - August: The new and improved Malaysian financial services landscape: What it means to you (INSURANCE Malaysia)
The new Financial Services Act 2013 (FSA) and the Islamic Financial Services Act 2013 (IFSA) places greater requirements on financial services institutions with emphasis on the entity’s financial security and business conduct, which may change how Malaysian financial services institutions operate in the future, says PwC Malaysia executive director Angie Wong.
- July - August: Branding Malaysia as a high value destination for finance shared services
(Accountants Today)
As globalisation continues, increased acceptance of offshore delivery and scarcity of talented resource skill sets will push organisations to maximise the value of shared services in strategic locations like Malaysia, says PwC Malaysia executive director Carmen Tang.
- 29 July: Thinner and flatter corporate structure is the way to go (The Edge Malaysia)
Corporate leaders need to periodically review their business structures and assess if corporate simplification is necessary to support their growth strategies, says PwC Malaysia executive director Victor Saw.
- 15 July: Managing successful IT projects (The Edge Malaysia)
A successful IT project requires the detailed management of people and their expectations, says PwC Malaysia executive director Shahrin Ismail.
- 6 July: Flexible working arrangements (myStarjob)
Gan Wee Fong and Kristy Chai, PwC Assurance executive director and tax senior consultant respectively, are testaments to PwC’s inclusive atmosphere and support for flexibility.
- 6 July: Promoting flexibility (myStarjob)
PwC Assurance senior manager Johanna Ramli explains how a flexible work arrangement can also work for a client-facing employee like her. The Back2Work programme is PwC’s latest initiative under its WorkLife Plus Programme (WLPP), aimed at helping professional women (qualified accountants) rejoin the working world after a career break.
- 1 July: Getting a seat at the strategy table (The Edge Malaysia)
HR professionals need to start measuring HR data, learn statistics and analytics, and use these tools effectively to demonstrate the return on people investments and the value they add to the business, says PwC Malaysia associate director Adwait Kashalkar.
- July: Consult the experts – question on GST (Personal Money)
Wan Heng Choon and Raja Kumaran, PwC Malaysia senior executive director and executive director respectively, respond to a question from a reader on GST and what it means for the rakyat.
- 29 June: Testimonials and opportunities in Graduan Aspire 2013 (myStarjob)
PwC Malaysia assurance leader Pauline Ho highlights PwC’s hiring and Gen Y engagement efforts, and why Graduan Aspire 2013 is the right platform for PwC’s recruitment initiatives.
- 17 June: Doing deals: Intangible assets, a key value driver? (The Edge Malaysia)
Intangible assets are increasingly seen as a key driver of deals value. The challenge lies in accurately identifying and valuing intangible assets pre-deal, says PwC Malaysia executive director Leonard Woo.
- 7 June: GST likely in 2015 (The Malay Mail)
GST will not be implemented immediately as time is needed for businesses to prepare itself, says PwC Malaysia senior executive director Wan Heng Choon.
- 7 June: GST turunkan harga barang, perkhidmatan (Berita Harian)
GST is a more comprehensive and transparent tax compared to the existing sales tax and service tax (SST), says PwC Malaysia senior executive director Wan Heng Choon. (translated summary).
- 7 June: PwC recommends 6% GST (The Sun)
A GST rate of 6%, which is similar to the current service tax, would be ideal as it yields better long term benefits, widens the nation's tax base and enhances the government's revenue, says PwC Malaysia senior executive director Wan Heng Choon.
- 7 June: Post-election relief for print media (Focus Malaysia)
Diversification into online portals and news sites is an industry challenge for established media brands as they grapple for increased market share in the digital domain, says PwC Malaysia Technology Information Communication Entertainment division partner Irvin Menezes.
- 7 June: Developers cry foul over Johor property tax plan (Focus Malaysia)
The Johor government's recent proposal to increase property tax for foreigners in the state should be accompanied by a detailed study by the private sector and the industry to ensure that the interests of the various stakeholders are addressed, says PwC Malaysia senior executive director Steve Chia.
- 7 June: PwC: GST has tax benefits (The Malaysian Reserve)
GST implementation should be in tandem with the progressive lowering of taxes on corporate and individual income to ensure a more equitable tax system, says PwC Malaysia senior executive director Wan Heng Choon.
- 3 June: Doing deals - a case for building a business empire, really? (The Edge Malaysia)
M&A is often seen as exciting and the easiest way to grow but many don't realise that aggressive expansion via M&A might lead to value destruction, says PwC Malaysia Executive Director Albert Lee.
- 13 May: Mind shift needed to make room at the top for women (The Malaysian Reserve)
It makes good business sense to have women in decision making roles as they have spending power and know what the market wants, says PwC Malaysia markets leader Chin Suit Fang at a recent panel discussion themed "Women Rising To The Top - What's Holding You Back?".
- May: Balancing Act (ACCA Accounting & Business China)
There may be certain points in a woman’s career when she may slow down or take a break, but that doesn’t have to be the end of her career, says Pauline Ho, PwC Malaysia assurance leader, in reference to PwC’s WorkLife Plus programme. This programme offers flexible working arrangements for PwC’s employees in helping them balance their work and personal lives.
- 26 April: Keeping employees happy beyond rewards (The Malaysian Reserve)
Employers must realign their talent strategies, especially in the areas of employee engagement, motivation and retention to bring out the best in their Gen Y employees, says PwC Malaysia executive director Ramon Chelva at a recent panel discussion themed "Beyond Rewards: What Keeps your Employees Happy".
- 22 April: It’s filing season again (The Sun)
Chartered Tax Institute of Malaysia (CTIM) president and PwC Malaysia senior executive director S. M. Thanneermalai provides an overview of the income tax filing process in this article.
- April: BYOD: here to stay (ACCA Accounting & Business Malaysia)
Mobility has become a crucial part of the client engagement experience at PwC. We have introduced several flex initiatives to empower our employees including the use of iPads by our partners and directors, says PwC Malaysia executive director Shahrin Ismail.
- 22 April: Empowering women (The Edge Malaysia )
Companies looking to optimise their women talent need to view this issue as a business opportunity, and not a women’s issue. Men, especially those in management positions need to champion this issue, says PwC Malaysia senior executive director Chin Suit Fang.
- 17 April: Growth in banking M&A (The Sun)
Malaysian banks will continue to seek growth through M&A and expand regionally, says PwC Malaysia advisory leader Tan Siow Ming. This is a promising outlook, considering the overall decline in global banking M&A, as shown in PwC’s new paper, The Journal - Brave new world: New frontiers in banking M&A.
- 7 March: M’sian firms top on managing sustainability (The Edge Financial Daily)
Companies recognise the relevance of sustainability to their business but few are actually making it a regular boardroom agenda, says PwC Advisory Services Malaysia consulting leader Sundara Raj at the launch of PwC’s report on sustainability strategy. The report, titled ‘Going beyond philanthropy?’ is based on a survey on how companies in emerging ASEAN economies, structure and manage sustainability.
- 6 March: Malaysian firms rank top in emerging ASEAN sustainability (The Edge Financial Daily)
Malaysia is the most matured market in the area of sustainability management, out of the five largest emerging economies in the ASEAN region; which also comprises Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam, says PwC Advisory Services Malaysia associate director Jack Cunningham at the launch of PwC’s report on sustainability strategy.
- February: Quarrels over? (ACCA Accounting and Business Malaysia)
It is crucial to recognise the distinctions between bearer biological assets (BBA) and consumable biological assets (CBA) in the IAS 41 accounting standard debate. The manner in which the economic benefits are derived from BBA differs considerably from CBA, says Malaysian Accounting Standards Board (MASB) chairman and PwC Malaysia executive chairman, Mohammad Faiz Azmi.
- 3 February: Tuned in to youth (New Sunday Times)
PwC’s Millennials at Work survey and the Graduan Aspire survey help employers understand the Gen Y, and craft inclusive people policies and plans to bring out the best in them, says PwC Malaysia’s head of resourcing Mona Abu Bakar.
- January: Millennials - Reshaping the workforce (HR Matters)
Employers must realign their talent strategies, especially in the areas of employee engagement, motivation and retention, in addressing the different dynamics that millennials bring to the workforce, says PwC Malaysia executive director Kartina Abdul Latif.
- 28 January: Staying relevant for tomorrow (The Edge Malaysia)
Organisations need to understand the different types of diversity that the Gen Y brings to the workforce, as seen in their attitudes towards work life and progression, says PwC Malaysia managing partner Sridharan Nair.
- 17 January: Emerging economies to outperform industrialised nations (New Straits Times)
Malaysia has strong growth potential, having recently regained its attraction as a destination for foreign direct investment, as shown in the latest 'World in 2050' report, says PwC Malaysia managing partner Sridharan Nair. The challenge is for the nation to be agile and adaptable to stay competitive in the global marketplace.
- January: Charting the future (ACCA Accounting and Business Malaysia)
Sridharan Nair and Mohammad Faiz Azmi share about their new roles as PwC Malaysia Managing Partner and Executive Chairman, respectively, and the challenges facing both the firm and the industry.
