Rajandram Chellappah

The Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA) is a professional accounting body that has been developing the accounting profession in Malaysia for over five decades. The private company is based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. MICPA was formerly known as the Malaysian Association of Certified Public Accountants (MACPA) and has been involved in the setting of accounting standards, including playing a technical advisory role for Malaysian regulatory bodies. MICPA has more than 3,200 members and over 500 registered candidates. The institute offers professional examinations and candidates will qualify for two professional memberships - Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Accountant (CA). MICPA's annual report provides detailed financial and operational information, and the institute also offers internship opportunities and sponsorships for candidates interested in pursuing the MICPA x CA ANZ qualifying programme. The MICPA student microsite aims to help interested students understand the world of accounting and the benefits of pursuing an accounting programme. Novie Tajuddin has been the CEO of the Malaysian company since 2018.

RAM Holdings is a leading provider of independent credit research and advisory services. Their forte is in the provision of unparalleled insights into the Malaysian bond market to help guide their clients’ decision making processes and also in other value-added services that complement their requirements. RAM Holdings (formerly known as Rating Agency Malaysia Berhad) was established in November 1990 as a catalyst for the domestic debt-capital market and as the nation’s first credit-rating agency. Their shareholders comprise both local and foreign financial institutions. On 1 July 2007, their rating operations were novated to a newly formed subsidiary, RAM Rating Services Berhad (“RAM Ratings”). Today, RAM Holdings spearheads the cultivation of new businesses and continues to provide training as well as economic research that promotes financial and credit expertise, in addition to soft skills. At RAM Holdings, they have three main subsidiaries that take care of their clients’ needs RAM Ratings and RAM Ratings (Lanka) Limited (which provide credit-rating services in their respective markets), and RAM Consultancy Services Sdn Bhd (which supplies innovative risk-management solutions as well as strategic business and advisory services). They also have 2 units within the holding company that furnish economic research and training services areas in which they possess more than a decade of experience. Through their solid infrastructure and diversity of skills, they are able to assign expert teams that provide in-depth analysis on the domestic debt-capital market to both issuers and investors as well as consultancy and business advisory services. As part of their initial ventures en route to their longer-term vision, RAM Holdings has established affiliations with internationally renowned Standard and Poor’s. They are also directly involved in other developing markets such as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Kazakhstan. In the regional arena, RAM Holdings is a member of the Association of Credit Rating Agencies in Asia (or ACRAA). Furthermore, they provide technical assistance and training to Bangladesh’s Credit Rating Information and Services Limited (or CRISL). Through their presence in these international financial markets, RAM Holdings is able to keep their finger on the pulse of global developments and activities. As the nation’s premier credit-rating agency and provider of advisory services, they are well poised to provide guidance by furnishing insightful advise and service of exceptional quality, integrity and objectivity.