AUSTRALIAN GOVT SUPPORTS MOBILITY FOR ACCOUNTING PROFESSION

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 20 (Bernama) -- The Australian government is supporting
mobility for the accounting profession through free trade negotiations.

Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, Penny Williams, said Friday that a
new free trade agreement involving both Malaysia and Australia will be signed on
Feb 27.

"This is the Asean-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement and it
includes good outcome for the profession, including in accounting services, tax
advice and financial plannning," she said during the CPA Australia certificate
presentation to honorary members here.

Williams said a bilateral free trade agreement between Australia and
Malaysia, once concluded, will also generate better outcome for the professional
services.

"We want to conclude the bilateral free trade agreement between Australia
and Malaysia. Negotiations are set to resume this year," she said.

At Friday's presentation ceremony, Accountant-General Mohd Salleh
Mahmud, CIMB group chief executive officer Nazir Razak and AmBank
Group executive chairman Azman Hashim were admitted as honorary members
of CPA Australia for their contributions to the finance, accounting and business
profession in Malaysia.

CPA Australia is the world's seventh largest accounting body, representing
more than 122,000 finance, accounting and business professionals in Australia,
Asia and Europe. Currently, its members are working in 100 countries.

"With the global financial crisis highlighting the urgency for a thorough
understanding of ethics, governance and strategic performance management, our
honorary members are ideal role models for our young members," CPA Australia
president Alex Malley said during the award presentation.

-- BERNAMA