Johan Raslan

Johan Raslan is the Executive Chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers Malaysia. Johan, 49, is the son of Mohammad Raslan Toh Muda Abdullah, a legend in the Malaysian business arena for his string of accomplishments, achieved at a relatively young age. A highly respected and prominent financier, he founded Hanafiah Raslan Mohamad, one of the nation's largest accounting practices then, as well as Pernas International Holdings Bhd, Malaysia National Insurance Bhd (MNI) and Bank Bumiputra Bhd (now CIMB Bhd), of which he was the first chairman and chief executive officer. He was also the first local to be appointed the nation's Accountant-General. There is conjecture from many parties that if his brilliant career had not been cut short by his untimely demise at the age of 40, Raslan would have become the nation's first Malay Finance Minister, succeeding Tun Tan Siew Sin.

Johan has two brothers, Karim and Kam. Johan was just 11 when Raslan died in a car crash, yet his father's influence appears to have pervaded every aspect of his life, from his love for his Malaysian heritage to his choice of profession.

After the death of his father, he went to the UK, came back to Malaysia for his Form Three to Five at Victoria Institution, and went to the UK again to do his A-levels. He obtainded the BSc Economics and Accounting from University of Hull, UK in 1981.

While in the UK, he worked with Robson Rhodes, Chartered Accountants, from 1981 to 1990 before moving to Price Waterhouse London where he served for two years. In 1992 he joined PwC Malaysia (then Price Waterhouse). A year later, he was admitted as a partner to the firm.

Johan also chairs the Financial Reporting Foundation (FRF), an appointment by the Minister of Finance. The FRF oversees the work of the Malaysian Accounting Standards Board. Johan is also chairman of Institute of Corporate Responsibility, Malaysia, a network of companies committed to advancing responsible business practices.

Johan is also a Board member and Audit Committee Chairman of Putrajaya Corporation, a member of the International Advisory Panel of the Labuan Offshore Financial Services Authority (LOFSA), a member of the Board of Kuala Lumpur Business Club and a member of the Board of Trustees of Yayasan Tun Suffian. Johan is Adjunct Professor of University Malaya, Vice-President of Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Council Member of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

In 2002, Johan was Eisenhower Fellowship recipient.He focused his fellowships on corporate governance, capital markets and banking regulation. His objective was to decide how the United States’ experience might inform the debates on Corporate Governance, which are occurring in Malaysia. As Corporate Governance champion at PricewaterhouseCoopers Malaysia, he was interested in discussing corporate transparency and reporting.

Johan’s fellowship came at a time when the US corporate world was struggling to reach equilibrium after the collapses of Enron, Worldcom, and a series of other financial scandals. He was in the unique position of witnessing change and confusion in the corporate sector. He met with investors, board members, CEOs, other stakeholders, accounting boards, the SEC, the Federal Reserve Bank, the New York Stock Exchange,

Congressional staff, academicians, business media, investment banking firms, equity funds, pension plan administrators and attorneys seeking their perspectives and their positions in regard to upcoming changes in American Corporate Governance.

While Johan’s objectives were reached, admittedly his focus was too narrow and, in hindsight, would have broadened his scope and goals to include a secondary fellowship goal, as recommended by his Program Officer.

Nonetheless, Johan departed for Malaysia with a plethora of insights; knowledge and professional contacts, which will help him immensely as he enters the debates on Corporate Governance that, are raging in his country.

He is better equipped to enter the fray and make significant contributions to the Malaysian Corporate Governance framework.