Write to or speak with the management of PLCs.

Some PLCs have dedicated investor relations units to give consistent and updated information on the company, as well as be a point of reference for investors. Investor relations units also serve to provide feedback for management to know and understand the perceptions, concerns and interest of shareholders and the investing community.

In some companies, the corporate communication unit may assume the function for investor relations.

As for companies where there is no such formal structure, particularly the smaller PLCs, investors can speak to the company secretary or the chief financial officer.

Write to the print media, i.e. letters to the editor.

Almost all the newspapers would have a section where readers can express their views on a particular issue. This form of lobbying through the print media has been known to garner support from other minority shareholders, as well as trigger action from the company or relevant authorities.

Unit Trust Funds

Unit trust holders have the right to call for a unit holders’ meeting. They also have the power to vote for the removal of the trustee or the management company through an Extraordinary Resolution.

Not less than 50 or one-tenth of all unit holders of the fund can apply for a unit holders’ meeting for the purpose of:

• considering the most recent financial statements of the unit trust fund, or
• giving the trustee such directions as the meeting thinks proper, or
• considering any other matter in relation to the trust deed.

The trust deed which governs the powers and responsibilities of the management company, the trustee and unit holders, should stipulate specific provisions relating to the convening of the unit holders’ meetings.