Yang Berhormat Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Minister of Finance Malaysia, Dr Veerinderjeet Singh, President, Malaysian Institute of Accountants, Distinguished speakers, Members of the Media, Ladies and Gentlemen

1. Good morning and welcome to the MIA International Accountants Conference 2021, the flagship learning and professional development platform of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants or MIA, specially designed to share the latest information and knowledge to members of the profession.
2. This year, due to the COVID-19 challenges and new norms, the Conference makes a comeback on a virtual platform that will feature more speakers both local and international.
3. We are very pleased with the response received and extend our utmost gratitude to all participants. Indeed, lifelong learning and professional development are key determinants in ensuring that accountants remain relevant, agile and resilient irrespective of the conditions around us.
4. Every year, we strive to deliver more value to our delegates. For 2021, the virtual platform has enabled us to pack even more content into the three days Conference. The outcome we hope to achieve – as the regulator, developer and voice of the profession in Malaysia – is to elevate our members and delegates to become more relevant, future-proof and sustainable. This in turn will enable all of you to be the strategic and trusted business advisers to your stakeholders on topics ranging from governance, business continuity, technology, sustainability and all financial related issues.
5. This year, our theme is “Navigating a Sustainable Future with Agility and Resilience”. Due to the unprecedented impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the sustainability of our future is a subject that is extremely relevant in these volatile and uncertain times.
6. Over the next few days, our esteemed speakers will discuss the many different areas that affect business continuity and sustainability, ranging from climate and environmental sustainability to digital transformation as well as the personal and professional wellbeing and sustainability of accountants and business leaders. As the Conference has allocated ample time for questions and answers via Pigeonhole, I hope that everyone will take part in these important conversations.
7. As professionals who are used to working primarily with financial and quantitative information, you might be asking what climate sustainability and climate governance have to do with the accountancy profession. This year, the Conference is placing extra emphasis on climate matters as climate change has been identified as a top risk in the World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Risk Report 2021. Climate is also an important component in ESG (environmental, social and governance) strategy and information, which affects decision making and business reputation, and is increasingly demanded by investors. Climate impacts are likewise becoming an increasingly visible element of reporting on value creation, as global corporate reporting moves towards convergence of integrated reporting and sustainability reporting frameworks, which will also be discussed during the Conference.
8. As a member body of IFAC and the national advocate for IR as well as an IIRC accredited training body, MIA shares the profession’s commitment to reporting on ESG, value creation and impacts. We also share IFAC’s stance that accountants’ expertise in measurement, reporting and assurance and our adherence to professional and ethical codes positions us as frontliners in upholding climate sustainability, for good governance and the public interest. Hence, several Conference sessions this year will focus on climate governance and climate reporting, as well as how accountants can advance to become climate, ESG and business sustainability leaders.
9. With regards to digital transformation, MIA has been advocating for the profession’s digital adoption over the past few years. Digital has been a focus at our previous Conferences and we integrate it extensively in our professional development programmes. Now it is even more imperative that accountants upskill digitally and become digital leaders as Malaysia has announced its vision of becoming a digitally driven and connected nation via the MyDigital and Malaysia Digital Blueprint, in order to fully participate in the global digital economy and IR4.0 movement. If we shun digital, the profession will be left behind.
10. Ladies and gentlemen, over the next three days, you will have access to 17 plenary sessions and your pick of 18 concurrent sessions. Networking has always been a hallmark of our Conference, and we hope to enable your connections and linkages in spite of the new norms. Delegates will be able to network virtually using the Conference’s powerful and interactive platform and virtual meeting rooms, and visit the virtual exhibition hall.
11. It is our hope that you will leave the MIA Conference 2021 with a better understanding of how climate sustainability and digital sustainability will shape business sustainability in the evolving post-pandemic world. It is also our hope that the insights shared by the expert business leaders and speakers from across the globe will help you to become more agile and resilient and prepared to navigate towards a more sustainable future.
12. Before I end, I would like to thank all our distinguished speakers, our Diamond Sponsor – AICPA-CIMA, Platinum sponsors – ACCA, IMA and UiPath, Supporting Big Firms, Gold Sponsors, Professional Bodies, International Partners & Supporters, Exhibitors, Official Partners and everyone who collaborated with us to deliver this Conference, as well as the MIA team. I wish everybody a productive three days and do enjoy the Conference.

Thank you.