ELECTRONIC SHAREHOLDERS’ MEETING AS A NEW NORM AFTER COVID-19: IS MALAYSIA READY?

Abstract

Electronic shareholders’ meeting is a modern method of conducting a shareholders’ meeting. When it was first introduced, the corporate community was less excited to take advantage of it. This situation changed when the world faced the COVID-19 pandemic. When human movement is being controlled to break the chain of infections, companies see electronic meetings as an alternative to hold shareholder meetings. Whether it can survive as the new norm of the corporate world depends on various factors. This paper analyse three things deem fundamental in assessing the issue. First is the law that can be the basis of its implementation. The second is support from infrastructure. The third is the ability of shareholders to participate in it. At the end of this discussion, it is concluded that Malaysia has all three requirements as forwarded by this paper. As such, Malaysia may be considered ready to accept electronic meetings as a new norm in organising shareholders’ meetings.