Company Registration in Malaysia

Company incorporation in Malaysia is governed by the Companies Act 2016 and regulated by the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM). The most common business structure is the Private Limited Company (Sdn. Bhd.), which has a separate legal entity status, and shareholders are only liable up to the amount of shares they hold.

The company name must be in English or Malay and end with "Sdn. Bhd." Up to three proposed names may be submitted to SSM for approval. A minimum of one shareholder is required, who may be either an individual or a corporate entity, with no nationality restrictions. Most ordinary industries allow 100% foreign ownership (except restricted industries such as finance, telecommunications, and energy).

A minimum of one director is required, and at least one director must be ordinarily resident in Malaysia (i.e. a Malaysian citizen, permanent resident, or a foreigner holding a valid long-term work pass). Foreigners without Malaysian residency status may only act as shareholders.

The minimum paid up capital is RM1, with no mandatory capital injection requirement. However, foreign investors are generally advised to set the paid up capital between RM1,000 and RM100,000 depending on business credibility and licensing requirements. Fully foreign owned companies in certain industries such as manufacturing and services may require a minimum paid up capital of RM500,000.

The company must maintain a physical registered address in Malaysia. P.O. boxes are not permitted, though a registered office address provided by a corporate secretarial firm may be used. Certain industries require business licenses before commencing operations.

Our services

• Malaysia company name reservation
• Incorporation of new Malaysian Private Limited Companies (Sdn. Bhd.)
• Provision of registered office / correspondence address
• Professional advisory on corporate restructuring, reorganization, and company law matters