company secretary

Top 5 Company Law Cases in Malaysia for 2020

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This article kickstarts the series of the Top 5 cases for the year 2020. This follows last year’s Top 5 Company Law Cases in Malaysia for 2019, restructuring and insolvency cases, and arbitration cases. This year’s series will cover five areas: company law, tax, construction, restructuring and insolvency, and arbitration cases in Malaysia.

We start with this year’s top company law cases in Malaysia. I will do things a bit differently as there were a number of interesting company law decisions. So I group the cases (which are more than five) into five areas of company law issues. Continue reading →

COVID-19: Companies Commission Provides Seven Reliefs to Companies

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On 10 April 2020, the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) announced that seven reliefs will be provided to companies in light of the COVID-19 outbreak and Malaysia’s Movement Control Order (MCO). These initiatives are very much welcomed. They range from temporary protection from winding up of companies, extension of time to lodge statutory documents, and an extension of time for the annual general meeting.

I will cover each of these seven reliefs and with some brief comments.

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Case Update: Resignation of Directors Does Not Require Acceptance or Consent by the Company

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I set out a case update on two recent High Court cases relating to the resignation of directors and on section 208 of the Companies Act 2016 (CA 2016) on giving the written notice of resignation as a director.

In the first case of Wong Kok Meng, the Court confirmed that a director’s resignation need not be accepted by the company and there need not be a resolution accepting such a resignation.

In the second case of Tan Kei Vin, it also dealt with the issuance of a director’s notice of resignation. That written notice took effect immediately when delivered to the company’s registered office.

I explain more on the two cases below. Continue reading →

Beneficial Ownership of Companies: Out of the Shadows

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Recent headlines have carried the news that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission wants to have its own provision on beneficial ownership in the MACC Act 2009 to identify real owners of businesses or properties to further eradicate corruption. This is also against a backdrop of the Panama Papers, and the Paradise Papers.

There is already an existing provision in the Companies Act 2016 (CA 2016) that deals with beneficial ownership. But perhaps, it does not go far enough.

It is important to identify the beneficial owner of a legal entity such as a company, a trust or a partnership. This will ensure tax transparency, and help to fight against tax evasion and financial crimes such as money laundering or terrorism financing. The true controllers of companies will be brought out of the shadows.

I set out some global trends, and I explain the existing Malaysian provision under the Companies Act 2016 (CA 2016) and the possible direction going forward.

[edit: On 8 November 2019, the Companies Commission of Malaysia issued its consultation document on the reporting framework for beneficial ownership. I have since written about it and with my observations over here.]

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Practising Certificate for Company Secretaries and the Duties of Company Secretaries

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Section 241 of the Companies Act 2016 (CA 2016) has come into force today on 15 March 2019 (see P.U.(B) 138/2019). This is the last provision of the CA 2016 to be brought into force. Under this section, all qualified persons who wish to act as a company secretary must register with the Registrar of Companies.

With the coming into force of section 241, the Companies (Practising Certificate for Secretaries) Regulations 2019 and Guidelines Relating to Practising Certificate for Secretaries Under Section 241 of the Companies Act 2016 have also come into force on 15 March 2019. There is also a FAQ section on the Companies Commission of Malaysia website. Continue reading →

Practising Certificates for Company Secretaries: Proposed Regulations

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The Companies Commission of Malaysia, or Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia (SSM), will be bringing into force the last remaining provision of the Companies Act 2016 (CA 2016). This is section 241 of the CA 2016 on the requirement for all company secretaries to register with SSM. SSM will issue practising certificates to all company secretaries.

In line with the coming into force of section 241 of the CA 2016, SSM has published  its Consultative Document on the Proposed Companies (Practising Certificate) Regulations 2019. SSM has invited comments on the Consultative Document by 30 October 2018.

I set out a bit of history leading up to this important provision for registration of all company secretaries, and my observations on the Consultative Document. Continue reading →