Introduction
Amtel Holdings Berhad (“the Company”) has adopted this Code of Conduct and Ethics (“Code”) for Directors. The Code provides the fundamental guiding standards applicable to the Directors for the Directors to carry out their duties in an honest, fair, diligent and ethical manner, within the scope of the authority conferred upon them and in accordance with the applicable laws, rules, regulations, guidelines and internal policies and relevant procedures. Directors are required to observe and uphold the provisions of the Code in carrying out their duties.
This Code is formulated with the intention to achieve the following aims:-
(i) To encourage high standards of honesty, integrity, ethical and law-abiding behavior expected of Directors; and
(ii) To provide standards to protect and promote the interests of various stakeholders of the Company.
Code of Conduct and Ethics
In the performance of his/her duties, a Director should at all times observe the following:-
2.1 Corporate Governance
2.1.1 Should have a clear understanding of the aims and purpose, capabilities and capacity of the Company;
2.1.2 Should devote time and effort to attend meetings and to know what is required of the Board of Directors of the Company (“the Board”) and each of its Directors, and to discharge those functions;
2.1.3 Should ensure at all times that the Company is properly managed and effectively controlled;
2.1.4 Should stay abreast of the affairs of the Company and be kept informed of the Company’s compliance with the relevant legislation and contractual requirements;
2.1.5 Should insist on being kept informed on all matters of importance to the Company in order to be effective in corporate management;
2.1.6 Should limit his/her directorship of companies to a number in which he/she can best devote his/her time and effectiveness; each Director shall be his/her own judge of his/her abilities and how best to manage his/her time effectively in the Company in which he/she holds directorship;
2.1.7 Should have access to the advice and services of the Company Secretary, to ensure proper procedures, all applicable laws, rules and regulations including insider trading laws are complied with;
2.1.8 Should at all times exercise his/her powers for the purposes they were conferred, for the benefit and prosperity of the Company;
2.1.9 Should disclose immediately all contractual interests, whether directly or indirectly, or whether actual or potential with the Company and its subsidiaries;
2.1.10 Should neither divert to his/her own advantage/benefit any business opportunity that the Company is pursuing, nor may he/she use confidential, sensitive and non-public information obtained by reason of his/her office for his/her own advantage/benefit;
2.1.11 Should at all times act with utmost good faith towards the Company in any transaction and to act honestly and responsibly in the exercise of his/her powers in discharging his/her duties; and
2.1.12 Should be willing to exercise independent judgment and, if necessary, openly oppose if the vital interest of the Company is at stake.
2.2 Relationship with Various Stakeholders including but not limited to Shareholders, Employees, Creditors and Customers
2.2.1 Should be conscious of the interest of various stakeholders including but not limited to shareholders, employees, creditors and customers of the Company;
2.2.2 Should at all times promote professionalism and improve the competency of Management and employees; and
2.2.3 Should ensure adequate safety measures and provide proper protection to workers and employees at the workplaces.
2.3 Social Responsibilities and the Environment
2.3.1 Should adopt an objective and positive attitude and give the utmost cooperation for the common good when dealing with government authorities or regulatory bodies;
2.3.2 Should ensure the effective use of natural resources, and improve quality of life by promoting corporate social responsibilities;
2.3.3 Should be more proactive to the needs of the community and to assist in society-related programmes; and
2.3.4 Should ensure that the activities and the operations of the Company do not harm the interest and well-being of society at large.
Objective
The Code of Conduct and Ethics (“Code”) adopted by Amtel Group of Companies (“Company”) has been formulated to protect and enhance the Group’s reputation for honesty and integrity.
Scope
This section is applicable to all category of employee.
Policy
- Employees shall abide and guided by the Code principles, in all respects and at all times, conduct themselves with propriety and decorum.
- Discovery of events or acts questionable, fraudulent or illegal nature or which are in violation of the Code is to be reported to the Chairman or Group Managing Director.
- Breaches of the Code by the employee, especially where it is related to honesty, integrity and maintenance of ethical standards may constitute ground for dismissal or other punitive action.
- Employees of the Group should not at any time be guilty of any criminal or civil act or conduct that would cause damage to the Group’s reputation, its property or general interests.
General Principles
1.3.1 The following Code applies to the Group’s daily activities and business decisions:-
A. Commitment
All employees are required to observe and adhere to the following:-
- To faithfully and diligently perform such duties and accept such responsibilities as may from time to time be assigned by the Company. Every employee is expected to promote and advance the interests of the Company at all times.
- To perform duties in respect of the Company he is attached to as well as any other Company within the Group.
- To faithfully observe and comply with all rules, regulations, procedures, practices and policies of the Group or Company whether expressed or implied.
B. Personal Benefits
- No employee may accept personal benefits whether from customers, potential customers, suppliers or agent acting on their behalf.
- Personal benefits include terms of value, gratuity, favour, service, loan, and legacy, lavish entertainment and free holiday trips and any items where there is a reasonable likelihood that the employee will be or will appear to have been improperly influenced in the performance of his duties to the Company.
- No employee shall accept any personal fee or commission for any work or advice in connection with the Company’s business unless he has obtained prior clearance from the Company in writing.
- If an employee receives any personal benefit, he shall immediately report it to Human Resource Manager or the Company Secretary, and upon instructions from Human Resource Manager or the Company Secretary, shall either retain the gift or return it or donate the gift to a charitable organisation selected by the Company.
The following are excluded:- - Normal entertainment in the ordinary course of business of the Company or Group (lunch, dinner etc);
- Token gifts of commercial value which are occasional and not from a supplier/customer calculated to influence decision;
- Gifts or cash contribution due to festivities and which are not abnormal (flower basket, festival hampers) and lucky draw sponsorship for annual staff gathering;
- Remuneration received from an organisation for which the employees provide separate services outside his duties to the Company and for which he has obtained prior clearance from the Company in writing.
C. Compliance with Laws and Regulations
The Company shall comply strictly with all applicable laws, rules and regulations. If there are questions about any law, advice should be sought from Human Resource Manager or the Company Secretary.
D. Conflicts of Interest
Members must be alert to and avoid or declare conflict of interest situations. Conflict of interest situation either involves conflict between the Company’s and personal interest or the Company’s and the customer’s interest or personal interest and customer’s interest.
Personal Interests
- To abstain from acting on behalf of the Company in a transaction that involves parties with whom he or his family members has significant connection/decision making influence or material financial interest; or
- To engage or concern himself or be interested in any other business, whether or not the business belongs to him or to any members of his family or any other person or corporation; or
- To have proprietary or pecuniary interest in the business of any other company, firm or individual, business of which is in whole or in part similar to any trade or business carried on by the Company or Group; or
- To trade with any company or firm in which the executive or his family members of the staff is interested directly or indirectly; or
- Any interest outside the Company which indirectly conflict with the business of the Company; or
- Any executive found to be so employed, engaged, invested, traded, concerned or interested in business will be regarded to have wilfully breached a condition of employment and the Group or Company reserves the right to terminate the contract of employment forthwith without notice or take other action as the Group or Company deems fit.
Conflict of Interest between Company and Customers
The following are examples of conflicts of interests’ situations involving conflict between the Company’s and the Customer’s interests that should be referred to the management for advice:-
- Acting as agent for both buyer and seller of a business or asset.
- Acting as adviser for the acquirer and acquiree in a takeover.
- Acting as adviser for the acquirer when the Company holds shares in the acquirer as material investment or loan collateral.
- Acting as advisers to two competitors on similar business issues e.g. marketing strategies.
E. Dealings with Suppliers
Subject to policy where group services are preferred, an employee must award orders or contract to suppliers strictly based on merits without favouritism.
F. Confidentiality and Publication
- An employee of the Group or Company shall not, either during the continuance of his employment or thereafter, except in the proper course of his duties, divulge to any person whosoever and shall use his best endeavours to prevent the publication or disclosure of any trade secrets or manufacturing process or any information concerning the business or finance of the Company and of the Group or any dealings, transactions or affairs which may come to his knowledge during or in the course of his employment.
- Employees shall not discuss internally or externally confidential information regarding the Company and the Group, its directors or business partners, customers, employees or others except when required by law or in the normal and ordinary course of business conduct of the Company and the Group.
- Any information generally not available to the public is classified as confidential and such information must not be shared with a third party or used to influence an investment decision in connection with the purchase or sale of securities.
- Any employee who receives a subpoena or other requests seeking disclosure of the Company and the Group’s information is to contact his immediate superior for guidance.
G. Public Statement Or As A Guest Speaker
- Employees are prohibited from making any public statement, either orally or in writing or in any form, on the policies or decisions of the Company and the Group nor shall he circulate any such statement made either by him or anyone else except with the approval of the Company in writing.
- An employee shall inform Human Resource Manager or the Company Secretary if he is approached by a member of the media to comment on any matters pertaining to the Company or the Group.
- An employee of the Company and the Group is not allowed to participate as a speaker in talks/seminars/conferences that are not organised by the Company or the Group without the prior approval of the Company in writing.
- When applying for prior approval from the Company, the employee concerned is required to submit the full text of his talk or speech to be delivered for consideration and approval.
- When approval is granted and the employee delivers his speech or talk, the employee should not digress by divulging any confidential and pertinent information pertaining to the Company and the Group’s business, operations and policies.If it is established that the employee has divulged confidential and pertinent information of the Company and the Group, the employee shall be subject to the appropriate disciplinary action.
Content
This remuneration policy (“the Policy”) is designed with the objective of attracting, retaining and motivating experienced, qualified and high calibre Directors of Amtel Holdings Berhad (“the Company”) to support and drive the business strategies, long term objectives and values of the Group. The remuneration of Directors shall take into account the demands, complexities and performance of the Company as well as the skills and experience required and at the same time shall align with shareholders’ interests.
The Remuneration Committee (“the Committee”) is responsible for developing and implementing the Policy pertaining to the remuneration for Directors, whilst the Board of Directors (“the Board”) of the Company is responsible to approve the Policy.
The remuneration of the Executive Directors is made up of Directors’ fees, meeting attendance allowance, salaries, bonus and benefits-in-kind. The determination of the remuneration is based on the executive functions, responsibilities, merits, qualification, competency and experience, as well as the contributions and performance of each Director to the business.
The remuneration of Non-Executive Directors is made up of Directors’ fees, meeting attendance allowance, medical expenses and other claimable benefits for the purpose of carrying out their duties as Non-Executive Directors. The determination of the remuneration for Non-Executive Directors are based on their experience, qualification and level of responsibilities.
The Committee may call upon independent professionals to advise the latest development on industry practices, in respect of the remuneration of Directors.
The Committee shall recommend to the Board, the remuneration of Directors for the Board’s approval except that the Directors’ fees and meeting attendance allowance (for all Directors), medical expenses and other claimable benefits (only for Non-Executive Directors) are tabled to the Board for recommendation and thereafter to the shareholders at general meetings for approval. No Director shall participate or vote on the deliberations and decisions concerning his or her own remuneration.
The Committee shall discharge their responsibility on reviewing and monitoring the implementation of the Policy on a regular basis to reflect current best practices to the Company. The Committee shall further discuss on any amendments to the Policy as and when required and recommend the same to the Board for approval.