The Court of Appeal in Abdul Malek Faisal bin Mohd Hyffny v Shaikh Marikhzan Jalani & 2 others (grounds of judgment dated 21 February 2023) invalidated an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) where the shareholders had passed a resolution to remove the director and chairperson of the company. The appeal turned on whether the shareholders should have waited for the full 15 minutes before electing one of their number to be chairperson of that meeting.
Continue reading
The High Court in Safari Alliance Sdn Bhd v Tan Lee Chin and others (grounds of judgment dated 25 August 2021) dealt with how a shareholder cannot maintain an oppression action against rulings made by the Chairperson at a general meeting. Such rulings do not amount to “affairs of the company” for oppression.
The High Court in the Eka Noodles Berhad v Norhayati binti Tukiman (grounds of judgment dated 21 August 2021) decided that a single member of the company can put in the request for the directors to hold a company general meeting.
I read the news on the Companies Commission of Malaysia charging NWP Holdings Bhd for its failure to obtain shareholders’ approval for directors’ fees. This failure was for two financial years of 2017 and 2018. This charge relates to section 230 of the Companies Act 2016 (CA 2016), being a new provision requiring shareholders in a general meeting to approve the fees of the directors. Essentially, the shareholders having a say on the directors’ pay. This is the first reported prosecution involving this section. Continue reading
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.
With the coronavirus outbreak, Malaysia is now under restricted movement to limit the gathering of people. The Prime Minister announced the movement control order and the associated regulations have been gazetted. This article aims to set out six key issues for companies as they navigate the holding of general meetings.
By way of background, on 16 March 2020, the Registrar of Societies announced that in light of the coronavirus pandemic, all annual general meetings for societies have been banned until 30 June 2020.
Seemingly, on 16 March 2020, the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) had issued a press release to ask all companies to consider all available options for meetings including electronic meetings at multiple venues. Companies would also apply for extension of time to hold its annual general meetings. The link on the SSM website has now gone down so I cannot locate a copy of that press release.
I set out the six possible issues that companies have to take note of in relation to their general meetings.
