Good corporate governance is about achieving the right blend

MUCH of what constitutes good corporate governance involves issues that are not new. Proper and timely disclosure of material information, ensuring directors discharge their fiduciary duties to shareholders whilst overseeing management, and installing a regulatory framework that ensures a level playing field for all investors, have long been priorities for any marketplace worth its salt.

Yet, achieving good corporate governance is not a static concept. It is instead a constantly evolving target that requires all parties, from stakeholders to regulators, to play their parts.

The Securities Investors Association (Singapore) or Sias has seen the local financial market shift from a merit-based, prescriptive regulatory regime, starting in the year 2000, to one that is primarily disclosure-based, where market participants play central roles in enforcing discipline.