The Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia (ICDM) has honoured four distinguished leaders with its highest accolade, the ICDM Honorary Fellow, recognising their outstanding contributions to corporate governance and nation-building.
The award celebrates individuals whose vision, integrity, and leadership have shaped Malaysia’s corporate landscape and left a lasting mark on society.
This year, ICDM honoured four pioneers of Malaysian governance:
- YM Tan Sri Dato’ Paduka Tengku Noor Zakiah Tengku Ismail, a trailblazer in capital markets and one of Malaysia’s pioneering female leaders
- YBhg. Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Sir Dr Jeffrey Cheah KBE AO, a stalwart entrepreneur and philanthropist dedicated to nation-building and sustainability
- YM Raja Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Arshad Raja Tun Uda, a respected business statesman and advocate for institutional excellence
- YBhg. Tan Sri Dato’ Seri (Dr) Ranjit Ajit Singh is a pioneer in governance reform and a global voice for market integrity.
Collectively, their contributions have strengthened Malaysia’s corporate governance ecosystem, promoting diversity, transparency, accountability, and sustainable enterprise.
In her address, YBhg. Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar, Chairman of ICDM, praised the recipients for shaping Corporate Malaysia and contributing to the nation’s development. She emphasised that their legacies, grounded in integrity and visionary leadership, highlight the importance of principled governance for progress that benefits both business and society.
Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar formally presented the awards, complete with the post-nominal ICDM(HF), to YM Tan Sri Dato’ Paduka Tengku Noor Zakiah Tengku Ismail and YBhg. Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Sir Dr Jeffrey Cheah.
Reflecting on her recognition, YM Tan Sri Dato’ Paduka Tengku Noor Zakiah stated her belief in strong stewardship and principled governance as the foundation for a resilient corporate Malaysia, hoping her award inspires future leaders to lead with integrity and service to the nation.
Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Sir Dr Jeffrey Cheah highlighted the vital role of ICDM in developing governance-focused leadership for Malaysian enterprises.
He spoke of his journey with Sunway and his philanthropic commitment through the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, which has awarded nearly RM1 billion in educational scholarships and is on course to exceed that by 2026.
Dr Cheah detailed his pledge of half a billion ringgit to establish one of Malaysia’s largest education endowments to sustain academic excellence at Sunway University indefinitely.
The award ceremony was attended by ICDM President & CEO Jackie Mah and board members, including Dato’ Abdul Aziz Abu Bakar, Salleh Hassan, Dato’ Seri Johan Raslan, and Jasmine Ng Kit Ching.
This conferment strengthens ICDM’s commitment to promoting exemplary leadership in Corporate Malaysia, setting a benchmark for integrity, vision, and service for present and future leaders.
