The Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA) honoured 32 candidates who have successfully passed the MIA Qualifying Examination (QE) for this year's March and September sitting. 17 candidates of this year's batch were also awarded Certificates of Achievement for having passed various papers of the QE with distinction.

A total of 171candidates sat for the exams this year. MIA QE Candidates are required to sit for and pass four papers which include Taxation, Auditing & Assurance Services, Business & Company Law, and Advanced Financial Accounting & Reporting in order to qualify for a Certificate of Completion.

In his address to the graduates, President of MIA, Datuk Mohd Nasir Ahmad emphasised that MIA QE mechanism is a thorough competency framework designed to equip aspiring chartered accountants to be highly skilled, knowledgeable and value adding exponents in the nation building agenda.

"The MIA QE is in place to produce chartered accountants that can spur positive and progressive growth to our nation through their professional contributions. In view of the highly globalised and volatile capital market environment in which we operate in, MIA is compelled to deliver graduates who of the highest standard," said Datuk Nasir.

Datuk Nasir also noted that the encouraging results for the Business and Company Law paper for the September 2011 sitting has shown a vast improvement with a passing rate of 75% as compared to 47% in 2010. He also mentioned that MIA will be introducing a newly revised assessment method which will take both workshop evaluations and final examination in the MIA Qualifying Examination.

"The objective of introducing the assessments is to provide a more effective academic support to our future QE candidates. Under the new system candidates are required to undertake the MIA QE Assessment which comprises of 40% workshop evaluation and 60% final examination."


This year marks the 3rd QE graduation ceremony organised by MIA. The first, which was held in December 2009, saw 17 candidates successfully passing the MIA QE in the September 2009 sitting. Nine candidates were awarded Certificates of Achievement for passing various papers with distinction that year.

The MIA QE was first conducted in September 2003 as an alternative pathway for accounting, business and finance graduates to qualify as accountants. It was introduced as an alternative qualifying route for students whose qualifications are not recognised under the Accountants Act 1967 but recognised by the Public Services Department or MIA, i.e. graduates from overseas, twinning programmes or 3+0 programmes. By passing the QE, the graduates are now eligible to join the fraternity of professional accountants and become chartered accountants of the MIA.