Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad (Bursa Securities) has publicly reprimanded Alam Maritim Resources Berhad (ALAM) for failing to ensure the company’s announcement dated 28 February 2011 on the fourth quarterly report for the financial year ended 31 December 2010 (4th QR 2010) took into account the adjustments as stated in the company’s announcement dated 29 April 2011.
The failure to take into account the adjustments was in contravention of paragraph 9.16(1)(a) of the Main Market Listing Requirements (Main LR) where a listed issuer must ensure that each announcement made is factual, clear, unambiguous, accurate, succinct and contains sufficient information to enable investors to make informed investment decisions.
The public reprimand was imposed pursuant to paragraph 16.19(1) of the Main LR after taking into consideration all facts and circumstances of the matter and upon completion of due process.
ALAM is also required to carry out a limited review of its quarterly report submissions. The limited review must be performed by external auditors for four quarterly reports commencing from the quarterly report for the financial period ended 30 September 2012. In addition, ALAM must ensure all its directors and relevant personnel attend a training programme on compliance with the Main LR pertaining to financial statements. ALAM is also required to assess the competency, adequacy and effectiveness of its financial reporting function.
While Bursa Securities has not found any of ALAM’s directors to have caused or permitted the breach by the company, Bursa Securities wishes to highlight that it is the duty of the directors to maintain appropriate standards of responsibility and accountability in ensuring compliance of the Main LR. The Board of Directors at the material time was as follows:-
(i) Dato’ Captain Ahmad Sufian @ Qurnain bin Abdul Rashid
(ii) Azmi bin Ahmad
(iii) Shaharuddin bin Warno @ Rahmad
(iv) Ahmad Hassanudin bin Ahmad Kamaluddin
(v) Ab Razak bin Hashim
(vi) Mohd Abd Rahman bin Mohd Hashim
(vii) Dato’ Haji Ab Wahab bin Haji Ibrahim
(viii) Fina Norhizah binti Haji Baharu Zaman
Bursa Securities views the contravention seriously and has reminded ALAM and its Board of Directors of their obligation to uphold appropriate standards of responsibility and accountability to shareholders and the investing public.
BACKGROUND
ALAM reported an unaudited loss after taxation and minority interest of RM8.237 million in the company’s 4th QR 2010, compared to an audited loss after taxation and minority interest of RM13.918 million in the company’s annual audited accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2010 which was announced on 29 April 2011. The variance of RM5.681 million between the unaudited and audited results represented a deviation of 68.9%. The adjustments were essentially due to the company’s oversight and errors.
