Five council members resign from 4As Malaysia, cite governance concerns and call for reform
Five senior leaders from the Malaysian advertising industry – each a re-elected member of the 4As Malaysia Council – have formally resigned from their Council positions. In a joint statement released to CB Asia they cite structural governance concerns and a call for greater transparency.
The resigning Council Members include:
● Irene Wong, Grey
● Joyce Gan, Fishermen Integrated
● Nizwani Shahar, Havas
● Yee Hui Tsin, TBWA
Each agency remains an active and committed member of the 4As.
“We did not resign from the 4As. We resigned from the Council after exhausting internal avenues for reform,” said the group in a joint statement. “This was not an act of protest based on loss, but a decision of principle.”
Core issues raised
The resigning members highlighted multiple governance breakdowns over the last term, including:
● Unfair Candidate Briefings: A new requirement for presidential candidates to deliver a speech at the Biennial General Meeting was communicated in advance to the only two external candidates. Sitting Council members were not formally informed, resulting in a clear disadvantage on election day. “This is not about the speech. It’s about equal preparation,” the statement clarified.
● CEO Appointment Without Council Approval: The Acting President and Senior Advisor unilaterally decided not to renew the contract of the former CEO, Khairudin Rahim, without prior Council consultation. Subsequently, a new CEO was appointed without Council discussion or vote—an act they state breaches Clause 17(b) of the 4As Constitution.
● Constitutional Irregularities: The position of “Senior Advisor,” does not exist within the 4As Constitution, raising further concerns about unchecked roles and influence in Council matters.
Call for governance reform
The group has put forward specific proposals to the newly elected Council, including:
● Mandatory disclosure of proxy vote counts and clearer proxy rules.
● Transparent candidate briefings with published election requirements.
● Deliberation on the role and constitutional basis of the “Senior Advisor.”
● Consideration of term limits for President and Vice President roles.
● Rotational leadership for major award programmes.
● Mandatory DEI training for all Council members and leadership.
“This is not about gender. This is about fairness, integrity, and protecting the future of the 4As,” said the joint statement. “It is our hope that our decision brings attention to needed reforms and encourages more members to speak up and participate.”
These leaders emphasized their ongoing support for 4As events, awards, and industry development initiatives.
“This is a defining moment. The next two years can be defined by transformation—or by more of the same. We call on all members to help shape a more inclusive, transparent, and future-focused 4As.”