Institutional factors and conditional conservatism in Malaysia: Does international financial reporting standards convergence matter?

We examine the impact of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) convergence on conditional conservatism in Malaysia. In addition, we examine the influence of various institutional factors, namely, political connections, Bumiputras directors, family firms and richest-men connections on conservatism. Prior literature presents evidence of IFRS convergence on conservatism, but limited evidence exists on the role of institutional factors on conservatism. Using a sample of 1760 firm-year observations from 2004 to 2008, we provide evidence that IFRS enhances conservatism. Firms with Bumiputras directors and family firms are more conservative post-IFRS convergence, whereas the reverse behaviour results for firms with richest-men connections. We find no evidence of politically connected firms being more conservative post-IFRS convergence. Our study provides knowledge on the role of IFRS in conditional conservatism and the role of institutional factors in this relationship

Earnings and Balance Sheet Conservatism in Malaysia

The objective of this paper is to examine the impact of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) on both earnings and balance sheet conservatism in Malaysia. Earnings conservatism has been used extensively in common-law countries such as the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK), which are known to have good financial reporting quality. In contrast balance sheet conservatism is more evident in code-law countries such as Japan and France, where accounting practice is highly influenced by the institutional culture similar to Malaysia such as political connection and family-firms. Since Malaysia uses international accounting standards adopted from common-law countries, we hypothesise that earnings conservatism will increase whereas balance sheet conservatism will decrease after the incorporation of IFRS in the financial reporting environment. Consistent with the hypothesis, we find that earnings conservatism and balance sheet conservatism increase and decrease respectively after Malaysia's convergence to IFRS. The results indicate that Malaysia has successfully adopted IFRS from common-law countries as earning conservatism increase after IFRS convergence

Director remuneration and performance in Malaysia family firms: an expropriation matter?

This study examines the relationship between director remuneration and performance in Malaysia family firms. The proxies of director remuneration include fees, salary, bonuses, and benefits of kin. The proxy for family firm is a dummy variable that is one (1) if the firm is a family firm and zero (0) is a non-family firm. The dependent variable (performance) is measured by ROA and ROE. A panel analysis of 537 firms from 2007 and 2009 finds that the relationship between director remuneration and performance is significantly positive. This suggests that the remuneration driven board motivation to enhance performance. Furthermore, this study does not find evidence the family firm manipulated a power and control for personal wealth

Earnings And Balance Sheet Conservatism In Malaysia: The Effect Of Malaysia's Convergence To International Financial Reporting Standards (Ifrs)

The objective of this paper is to examine the impact of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) on both earnings and balance sheet conservatism in Malaysia. Earnings conservatism has been used extensively in common-law countries such as the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK), which are known to have good financial reporting quality. In contrast balance sheet conservatism is more evident in code-law countries such as Japan and France, where accounting practice is highly influenced by the institutional culture similar to Malaysia such as political connection and family-firms. Since Malaysia uses international accounting standards adopted from common-law countries, we hypothesise that earnings conservatism will increase whereas balance sheet conservatism will decrease after the incorporation of IFRS in the financial reporting environment. Consistent with the hypothesis, we find that earnings conservatism and balance sheet conservatism increase and decrease respectively after Malaysia's convergence to IFRS. The results indicate that Malaysia has successfully adopted IFRS from common-law countries as earning conservatism increase after IFRS convergence

Corporate Governance and Earnings Conservatism in Malaysia

Purpose: This paper aims to investigate whether the revised Malaysian Code on Corporate Governance in 2007 enhances earnings conservatism. In addition, the authors examine the relationship between board of directors’ expertise and conservatism. The third objective is to investigate the relationship between audit committee characteristics and earnings conservatism. Design/methodology/approach: The sample of this study is based on 3,183 firm-year observations for a period of 2004-2009. The authors hand collected the corporate governance variables, whereas the remaining data were extracted from Compustat Global. The authors used two measures of conservatism. The first is the market-based model by Basu’s (1997), and the second measure is the accrual-based measure by Ball and Shivakumar (2005). Findings: The authors find that the revision of Malaysian Code on Corporate Governance 2007 results in improving earnings conservatism. The authors find two audit committee characteristics, namely, audit committee financial expertise and independence increase earnings conservatism, after 2007. However, the authors could not find support whether board financial expertise mix affect conservatism. Research limitations/implications: This study did not consider other possible corporate governance variables that could influence earnings conservatism, as it would be a difficult task to gather them. Originality/value: The authors provide evidence on the role of corporate governance and earnings conservatism in Malaysia

Characteristics of Non-Audit Services and Financial Restatements in Malaysia

Various types of purchased non-audit services (NAS) and their recurring nature affect the likelihood of financial statement restatements in Malaysia. Based on 953 firm-year observations during the period 2007–2009, evidence of a negative relationship between non-audit fees and financial statement restatements is provided. The purchase of both tax-related and audit-related NAS decreases the likelihood of restatements. Recurring (as opposed to non-recurring) tax-related and audit-related NAS are negatively and significantly related to the likelihood of restatements. These findings support our hypothesis that both types of NAS and their recurrence provide knowledge spillover, which enhances audit and financial reporting quality. When considering institutional settings, we find that politically connected firms are more likely to require financial restatements than non-politically connected firms, while audit committee independence and the purchase of tax-related, recurring tax-related and other NAS decrease this likelihood. The purchase of audit-related and recurring audit-related NAS and non-recurring other NAS decreases the likelihood of restatements for non-politically connected firms

Culture, corporate governance and analysts forecast in Malaysia

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between Bumiputra (in reference to Malay indigenous race) directors, a proxy for culture and analysts forecast. In addition, the study investigates whether corporate governance affects that relationship. Design/methodology/approach – The sample of this study is based on 664 firm-year observations from 193 firms during the 1999-2009 periods. The authors employ a panel least square regression with both period and industry fixed effects. The authors retrieved of analyst data from the Institutional. Broker Estimate System (I/B/E/S) database while the authors hand collected the corporate governance variables. The remaining data were collected from Compustat Global. Findings – The authors find a positive relationship between the proxy of culture, Bumiputra directors and analysts forecast error suggesting that cultural values influences the level of information in the Malaysian capital market

Political connections: A threat to auditor independence?

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine whether political connections further impair auditor independence by investigating the relationship between non-audit fees and audit fees and as to whether political connections moderate such relationship. Design/methodology/approach: This study employs panel regression analysis. The panel data set consists of 379 firm-year observations for three years from year 2001 to 2003. Findings: Based on 379 firm-year observations for the period of 2001-2003, grounded on two proxies of political connections namely politically connected firms and the proportion of Bumiputras directors, the authors find a positive and significant relationship between non-audit fees and audit fees, and the relationship becomes weaker, only for Bumiputra-dominated firms connected firms. Originality/value: This study contributes to the extant literature by examining the role of political connections in the context of auditor independence. In addition, this study is conducted in Malaysia, which provides a unique institutional environment with the existence of political connections that is built on ethnic grounds

Institutional Investors, Political Connections and Analyst Following in Malaysia

We examine the association between institutional ownership, political connections, and analyst following in Malaysia from 1999 to 2009. Based on 940 firm-year observations, we document a positive relation between institutional ownership, particularly by Employees Provident Fund (EPF), and analyst following, thus supporting the governance role that institutional investors play in promoting corporate transparency. However, there is no evidence that political connections matter to analyst following. The monitoring role of institutional investors, including EPF, does not appear to be any different between politically connected and non-connected firms

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS: EVIDENCE FROM MALAYSIA

ABSTRAC