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More disclosures tied to value creation could be just the ‘culture shock’ the market needs

Entrenched mindsets that fester in short-term thinking about corporate governance could exact a steep cost

Jude Chan
Published Wed, Apr 29, 2026 · 07:08 PM
    • SGX RegCo chief executive Tan Boon Gin last week unveiled proposals for new disclosure rules on executive remuneration, dividend policies and investor relations.
    • SGX RegCo chief executive Tan Boon Gin last week unveiled proposals for new disclosure rules on executive remuneration, dividend policies and investor relations. PHOTO: BT FILE

    (SINGAPORE) When the market regulator proposed enhanced disclosures by company boards to promote value creation and investor engagement, ​murmurs of push-back ​predictably started to echo through the financial district.

    This is understandable. Deep-seated corporate behaviour and entrenched cultures are incredibly difficult to shake – and for years, segments of the local market have operated comfortably behind closed doors, treating executive compensation as a private matter divorced from long-term shareholder returns.

    ​While the reaction to the proposals to raise standards for transparency is entirely expected, it is also fundamentally wrong.

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