Sustainability Disclosure among Malaysian Shari‟ah-Compliant listed Companies: Web Reporting

Abstract

This paper advances previous research of sustainability disclosure by focusing on information disclosed in the companies‟ web site rather than through annual reports. Despite looking at the listed companies in general, this study attempts to consider the practice of disclosing sustainability information in the Malaysian Shari‟ah-Compliant listed companies, which represented 87% of the total listed securities or 64.3% of the market capitalization on Bursa Malaysia web site. This study used Islamicity Disclosure Index consists of Shari‟ah Compliance Indicator,<br />Corporate Governance Index and Social/Environmental Index, and the data is analysed using a content analysis. The results of the study suggest that the sustainability disclosure by Malaysian Shari‟ah-compliant listed companies fall significantly on corporate governance index themes, followed by social/environmental index themes. However, Malaysian Shari‟ah-compliant listed companies did not clearly disclose the items under Shari‟ah compliance index. Contrary to our expectation, most of the companies disclose the items measured in the annual reports linked to<br />the companies‟ web site and are thus not fully in the web site.<br /><br />

Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting through the Lens of ISO 26000: A Case of Malawian Quoted Companies

“…Yeung (2011) recognised that demand for accountability and transparency from both public and private sectors is soaring, as a result, organisations that are not concerned with the needs and expectations of the stakeholders will be uncompetitive in relation to those who do. Furthermore, Mohammed et al (2009) observed that the corporate environment is currently very dynamic and very competitive that requires organisations to include social, environmental, corporate governance and stakeholders' concern into their corporate strategy in order to remain competitive. Generally, the current operating environment is radically different from the old; this is the reason why it is being referred as the new economy.…”

“…Mohammed et al (2009) observed that the modern industry is facing ever-changing corporate environment that is increasing competitive pressures and making stakeholders (i.e. shareholders, investors, government and regulators) to demand more information from organisations not only on the financial aspects but also on non-financial issues.…”

“…shareholders, investors, government and regulators) to demand more information from organisations not only on the financial aspects but also on non-financial issues. Thus, Mohammed et al (2009) asserted that in order for the organisations to maintain competitiveness, they need to include social, environmental, corporate governance and stakeholders' concern into corporate strategy (Mohammed et al, 2009). Besides, they must be making relevant disclosures, as the availability of social responsibility information is assisting users in making more informed decisions about a company concern (Al-Khater & Naser, 2003).…”

The Availability, Extent and Quality of Sustainability Reporting by Malaysian Listed Firms: Subsequent to Mandatory Disclosure

“…The former expresses the idea that business firms or other organizations create value in multiple dimensions, i.e., in economic, social and environmental dimensions (Elkington, 2006), while the latter refers to the voluntary actions taken by a company to address economic, social and environmental impacts of its business operations, and the concerns of its principal stakeholders (Christensen, et al, 2007). Besides TBL and CSR, sustainability also refers to social responsiveness, social performance, public policy, CSP, business ethics or stakeholder management (Carroll, 1991;Mohammed, Alwi, & Muhammad Jamil, 2009).…”

An Exploratory Study of the Rhetoric in CSR Reports: A Comparison of Shari’ah Compliant Company and Non –Shari’ah Compliant Company in Malaysia

“…Their result had shown that different rhetoric is applied in companies' report where ethos had been the most common ethical perspective expressed in the report. † In Malaysia, the CSR study focuses on the nature, status or trend, quality, quantity and factors of disclosure in both Non-Shari'ah -compliant and the Shari'ah compliant companies' annual reports (Anuar et.al., 2004, Yahya et al, 2005, Amran and Devi,2008Said et al, 2009;Mohamad et al, 2010 ;Esa and Ghazali., 2012). However, none has been noted to have discussed the type of ethical categories and moral attitude of company in divulging CSR in the annual report.…”