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Societies Act 1966 (Revised - 2021)

SOCIETIES ACT 1966 (REVISED - 2021)

AKTA PERTUBUHAN 1966 (DISEMAK - 2021)

Act 832 · consolidated to 15 Nov 2021 · 95 pp

Socio-economic rightsArtistic freedom
This copy of the Act is 4 years old. Any amendment made since 15 November 2021 is not in this text. Check the AGC record for later amendments.
Why it matters

What this does to artists

The other vehicle for an arts collective: a registered society. Cheaper and faster than a CLBG, but the Registrar has wide powers over registration, rules and dissolution, which is a live freedom-of-association issue for politically engaged arts groups.

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This is the 2021 revised reprint of the Societies Act 1966 (formerly Act 335).

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What to read first

Section numbers read out of the AGC text itself

s.6Application for registration
s.5Power of the Minister to declare a society unlawful
s.3APowers of Registrar
s.13Cancellation and suspension
s.42Penalty on office-bearer, etc., of an unlawful society
Full arrangement of sections 81 sections · show / hide

Extracted from the AGC PDF on this page.

s.1Short title and application
s.2Interpretation
s.2ARegistered societies to act in fulfilment of the Constitution
s.3Appointment of Registrar, Deputy Registrars and other officers
s.3APowers of Registrar
s.3BPower of delegation
s.4Societies deemed to be established in Malaysia
s.5Power of the Minister to declare a society unlawful
s.6Application for registration
s.6APower of Registrar to make inquiries, etc., in relation to any application under this Act
s.7Registration and refusal to register
s.8Certificate of registration
s.8ALiability of registered society in respect of contracts entered into by a branch
s.9Provisions applicable to registered societies
s.9ADisqualifications applicable to office-bearers, advisers and employees of registered societies
s.10Inspection of documents and evidentiary value of copies certified by Registrar
s.11Change of name, place of business and rules of society
s.12Branch of a society
s.13Cancellation and suspension
s.13APower of Registrar to make certain orders in respect of registered societies
s.14Information to be furnished by societies, etc
s.15Persons responsible for supplying information
s.16Disputes
s.17AApplication of section 17 to unlawful branch
s.17BVesting in a new registered society of property of a society whose registration has been cancelled
s.18Appeals
s.18AApplication of Parts I and III
s.18BCircumstances which do not make an election invalid
s.18CDecision of political party to be final and conclusive
s.19Application of Parts I and III
s.20Saving
s.21Restrictions on registration of mutual benefit societies
s.22Membership of minors
s.23Restriction on nominees
s.24Priority on death, bankruptcy, etc., of office-bearers
s.25Appointment of trustees
s.26Audit
s.27Calling for information and inspection of books and documents by the Registrar
s.28Right to supply of copies of the rules
s.29Right to supply of copies of annual return
s.30Inspection of books by members
s.31Subscriptions and benefits
s.32Rights, etc., of registered society not affected by change of name 33–34. (Deleted)
s.35Inspectors and special meetings
s.36Dissolution of registered societies
s.37Instrument of dissolution
s.38Dissolution by Registrar
s.39Notice of proceedings to set aside dissolution
s.40Decision of disputes
s.41Unlawful societies
s.42Penalty on office-bearer, etc., of an unlawful society
s.43Penalty on member of unlawful society
s.44Person allowing unlawful society on premises
s.45Penalty for inciting, etc., a person to become a member of an unlawful society
s.46Penalty for procuring subscription or aid for an unlawful society
s.47Publishing, etc., propaganda of an unlawful society
s.48Acting on behalf of or representing an unlawful society
s.49Liability of office-bearer of a society whose registration has been cancelled
s.50Flags, symbols, emblems, badges or other insignia of societies
s.51Liability of office-bearer in respect of offences by society
s.52Society using a triad ritual to be deemed an unlawful society
s.53Penalty for misuse of money or property of a registered society
s.53APenalty for displaying or using certificate of registration which has been cancelled
s.54Punishment of fraud, false declaration and misappropriation
s.54APenalty for furnishing false information
s.55Presumptions
s.56Presumption of membership, etc., of society
s.57Expert evidence
s.58Protection of informers
s.59Forfeiture
s.60Certain non-bailable and registrable offences
s.61Consent to prosecution
s.62Service of summons
s.63Power of entry and inspection of records
s.64Power of entry, search and seizure by Registrar or Assistant Registrar in special cases
s.65Power of entry and search
s.66Power of Registrar or Assistant Registrar to summon witnesses
s.67Regulations
s.68Repeal
s.69(Omitted)
s.70Power to exempt
Who this reaches
Visual artsMusicFilm & TVPerforming artsLiterature, writing & publishingFashion & craftDigital & mediaMuseum & archivingContent creationEverything else
Important notice

This page is published by ALIM (Art × Law Initiative Malaysia) as general legal information for Malaysia’s creative communities. It is not legal advice. It does not take your circumstances into account, and reading it does not create a solicitor-client relationship with ALIM or with anyone associated with it.

The law changes. Each Act reproduced here is the Attorney General’s Chambers’ consolidated reprint and carries the date it was consolidated to; amendments made after that date do not appear in the text, and the authoritative version of any Malaysian law is the one published in the Federal Gazette. Subsidiary legislation, state enactments and local authority by-laws may also apply to your situation and are largely outside this library.

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