Um Allianz Team Up To Launch Centre On Governance

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UM deputy vice-chancellor (academic and international) Yatimah Alias (third from left) and Allianz Asia Pacific Regional CEO Anusha Thavarajah at the launch of the Allianz Centre for Governance at Universiti Malaya today. (Allianz Malaysia pic)
KUALA LUMPUR: Allianz Malaysia Bhd and Universiti Malaya (UM) today launched the Allianz Centre for Governance (ACFG), a strategic initiative to conduct research on governance and related fields.
The centre, which will serve as a key platform for academic research and public engagement, will focus on strengthening business integrity and supporting reforms in governance practices.
A three-year joint collaboration, ACFG will carry out research on topics such as the state and governance of higher education, Orang Asli affairs, and local government.
The centre’s director, Zaharom Nain, said ACFG was established in light of the ongoing concern between sections of the corporate sector and the academia on the deep-rooted issues of corruption, poor governance and abuse of power.
Apart from carrying out research that Allianz is interested in, such as ways to develop best practices in corporate governance based on integrity and transparency, the centre will also conduct research projects proposed by external stakeholders such as academics, postgraduate researchers, and civil society.
“The centre is not interested in political rhetoric,” said Zaharom during the centre’s launch at the Za’ba Memorial Library in UM.
“Society can truly benefit only with genuine action and policies which are effectively implemented.
“This is why we are concerned about conducting evidence-based research that attempts to dispassionately find out where the fault lines lie and to propose ways of addressing them,” he said.
The centre is led by Zaharom and assisted by senior researcher Sharifah Munirah Alatas.
The team will be guided by an advisory committee consisting of Allianz Malaysia chairman Zakri Khir, Allianz General Insurance chairman Muhammed Abdul Khalid, economist Nungsari Ahmad Radhi, the dean of UM’s business and economics faculty Yusniza Kamarulzaman, and the deputy dean of UM’s business and economics faculty Izlin Ismail.
Also present at the launch were Yusniza, Zakri, UM’s deputy vice-chancellor (academic and international) Yatimah Alias, Allianz Asia Pacific Regional CEO Anusha Thavarajah, and Allianz Malaysia CEO Sean Wang.
Wang said the timing of the centre’s launch was meaningful as yesterday was International Anti-Corruption Day.
He added that the centre’s efforts would also complement the nation’s commitment to combat corruption in line with the 2024-2028 National Anti-Corruption Strategy.
“Our (Allianz) mission is clear, to spark meaningful change and foster an environment where integrity thrives, and corruption has no foothold. We will continue to invest in initiatives that align with this vision,” he said. - FMT

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