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Malaysia is a Southeast Asian nation. The federal constitutional monarchy is made up of thirteen states and three federal territories that are divided into two parts by the South China Sea: Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo's East Malaysia. Peninsular Malaysia has land borders with Thailand as well as sea boundaries with Singapore, Vietnam, and Indonesia. East Malaysia has land borders with Brunei and Indonesia, as well as a sea border with the Philippines and Vietnam. Kuala Lumpur is the national capital, the biggest city, and the site of the federal government's legislative branch. Putrajaya, the neighboring planned capital, serves as the administrative capital, housing both the executive (Cabinet, federal ministries, and agencies) and judicial branches of the federal government. Malaysia is the world's 44th most populated nation, with a population of about 32 million people. Tanjung Piai is the southernmost point of continental Eurasia. Malaysia is one of 17 megadiverse nations in the tropics, home to several indigenous species.
Malaysia arose from the Malay kingdoms, which were subject to the British Empire in the 18th century, along with the British Straits Settlements protectorate. In 1946, Peninsular Malaysia was united as the Malayan Union. Malaya was reorganized as the Federation of Malaya in 1948, and it gained independence on August 31, 1957. On September 16, 1963, independent Malaya merged with the then-British crown territories of North Borneo, Sarawak, and Singapore to become Malaysia. Singapore was removed from the federation and became a distinct sovereign nation in August 1965.
The country's politics are influenced by its multiethnic and multicultural makeup. Approximately half of the population is Malay, with minority comprising Chinese, Indians, and indigenous peoples. Malaysian, a standard version of Malay, is the country's official language. English is still used as a second language. While Islam is recognized as the country's official religion, the constitution provides non-Muslims religious freedom. The legal system is founded on common law, and the government is modeled after the Westminster parliamentary system. Every five years, an elected monarch is selected from among the nine state sultans to be the head of state. The Prime Minister is the head of government.
Malaysian GDP increased at an annual rate of 6.5 percent after independence for over 50 years. The economy has always been driven by natural resources, but it is diversifying into research, tourism, trade, and medical tourism. Malaysia has a freshly industrialized market economy that ranks third in Southeast Asia and 33rd globally. It is an ASEAN, EAS, and OIC founder member, as well as a member of APEC, the Commonwealth, and the Non-Aligned Movement.
Up to two years of employment: 8 days per year
Between 2 to 5 years: 12 days per year
5+ years: 16 days per year
There are six mandatory public holidays and ten optional public holidays in the Malaysia (employer should choose at least 5 of these but it is common for offices to close on all). State day is a federally mandated public holiday that differs by state. All other holidays are observed on a national level.
Up to two years of employment: 14 days per year
Between 2 to 5 years: 18 days per year
5+ years: 22 days per year
If a female employee has been employed in the past four months and has worked for the same company for at least 90 days in the nine months previous to childbirth, she is covered in full by the employer for at least 90 days.
In the commercial sector, there are no provisions for paternity leave; however, in the public sector, dads are entitled to 7-14 days.
Parental leave is not specifically indicated in Malaysian labor laws.
Employees may be terminated for misconduct or poor performance on the job. Termination may be challenged by an employee as an unfair discharge. It is advised that adequate protocol (notice, time, and guidance to improve performance) be followed to minimize the possibility of an unfair dismissal claim.
There is no set amount, but it should be fair to both employee and employer.
Probation is optional in Malaysia. The common practice is to have one to three months' long probation periods. The Employment Act does not distinguish between employees on probation and permanent employees.
The following are the minimum termination benefits available to employees who are terminated for reasons unrelated to misconduct. For the first two years of employment, severance pay is equal to the total compensation received for ten days of service per year. Severance pay is calculated on the basis of the total pay received during the first two to five years of employment. Severance pay is calculated on the basis of the total pay received from 20 days of service per year for employees with more than 5 years of service.
In Malaysia, the regular workweek cannot exceed 48 hours, spread across six days with eight-hour workdays. However, if less than eight hours are worked on one or more days throughout the week, the remaining days may surpass eight hours, up to a maximum of nine hours in a single day and 48 hours per week.
Women face additional restrictions, including protections for female agricultural employees. Between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., women are not permitted to work.
Overtime, defined as hours worked in excess of the employee's normal work hours, is compensated at a rate of at least one and a half times the employee's regular wage. An employee may work a maximum of 104 hours of overtime per month.
Since February of 2020, the minimum wage in Malaysia has increased to 1,200 MYR per month in urban areas, 1,100 MYR per month in rural areas.
Malaysia provides universal healthcare that is financed by payroll taxes and the general budget. There is also the option of paying for private health care. Malaysia's public healthcare system is very excellent, but it often has lengthy lineups, which is why some people choose to pay a premium for private treatment.
The 13th-month bonus is not required by law, but it is customary practice. In Malaysia, performance-based incentives are also popular. Some businesses also provide Group Private Health Insurance, Group Life Insurance, and Group Accident Insurance to their employees.
For both resident and non-resident companies, corporate income tax (CIT) is imposed on income accruing in or derived from Malaysia.
If a resident company:
(1) has a paid-up capital of 2.5 million Malaysian ringgit (MYR) or less, and gross income from business of not more than MYR 50 million; and
(2) does not control, directly or indirectly, another company that has paid-up capital of more than MYR 2.5 million, and is not controlled, directly or indirectly, by another company that has paid-up capital of more than MYR 2.5 million,
the tax rate is 17 percent on the first MYR 600,000m and 24 percent in excess of MYR 600,000.
Non-resident companies are imposed a corporate income tax of 24 percent.
An individual, whether tax resident or non-resident in Malaysia, is taxed on any income accruing in or derived from Malaysia.
If an individual has a taxable income between MYR 5,000 and MYR 20,000, the tax rate is set at 1 percent.
If an individual has a taxable income between MYR 20,000 and MYR 35,000, the tax rate is set at 3 percent.
If an individual has a taxable income between MYR 35,000 and MYR 50,000, the tax rate is set at 8 percent.
If an individual has a taxable income between MYR 50,000 and MYR 70,000, the tax rate is set at 13 percent.
If an individual has a taxable income between MYR 70,000 and MYR 100,000, the tax rate is set at 21 percent.
If an individual has a taxable income between MYR 100,000 and MYR 250,000, the tax rate is set at 24 percent.
If an individual has a taxable income between MYR 259,000 and MYR 400,000, the tax rate is set at 24.5 percent.
If an individual has a taxable income between MYR 400,000 and MYR 600,000, the tax rate is set at 25 percent.
If an individual has a taxable income between MYR 600,000 and MYR 1,000,000, the tax rate is set at 26 percent.
If an individual has a taxable income between MYR 1,000,000 and MYR 2,000,000, the tax rate is set at 28 percent.
If an individual has a taxable income of over MYR 2,000,000, the tax rate is set at 30 percent.
Sales tax is a one-time tax levied on taxable products produced locally by a registered manufacturer as well as taxable goods imported by anybody. Ad valorem taxation is the most common kind of sales tax. Currently, specific rates of sales tax are only levied on particular types of petroleum (generally, refined petroleum). The ad valorem charges are 5% or 10%, depending on the type of products.
The visa must be sponsored by the employer, who must be a recognized firm that hires foreign workers. The employee must be a foreign specialist in the subject in which they would be working. Malaysia also maintains a reported key occupations list (COL), which highlights job categories with a skills deficit inside the nation and assists work permits/visa applications.
There are three categories of work permits/visas in Malaysia: employment passes, professional visit passes, and temporary employment passes. Each sort of pass has its own acceptance criteria, with numerous requirements that the employee must complete in order to qualify.
In Malaysia, employment contracts are usually in writing. It must include information on the job's location, job description, salary, overtime, working hours, leaves and entitlements, health and safety issues, probation, and termination. Written contracts must contain language that specifies the circumstances for contract termination.
Pre-employment background checks are not illegal, however they may be subject to data privacy regulations.
Labor contracts may be for a set amount of time or for an unlimited period of time. A contract for a period of more than one month must be in writing. However, if a fixed-term employee's contract is extended numerous times, that individual will be treated as a permanent employee in the event of dismissal.
Probation periods are limited to three months, and an employer may cancel the contract during the probation period if the employee is deemed incapable.
Malaysian Ringgit
Before you look into how to establish up a Malaysia subsidiary, you need think about a few variables that are specific to your business. Consider the sort of company you intend to start, the nationality of the employees you will recruit, and if any current trade agreements may have an influence on your subsidiary.
The next critical stage is to get acquainted with all aspects of the local culture. Malaysia is a multiracial society influenced by Malay, Chinese, and Indian cultures. Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia are two distinct geographical areas with distinct cultural variations that may influence where you put your Malaysia headquarters.
The language also varies depending on where you are in the nation. Although Malay is the official language, you may often meet Chinese and Indian languages when doing business.
Following consideration of these issues, the stages to establish a Malaysia subsidiary include:
1. Performing a name search
2. Submitting paperwork for incorporation
3. Establishing a business
4. Opening a business bank account
5. Registration for Goods and Services Tax (GST) (GST)
6. Payroll tax registration
7. Enrolling with the Social Security Administration (SOCSO)
The most common kind of Malaysian subsidiary is a private limited liability company (also known as "Sendirian Berhad" or "Sdn. Bhd."). To form a Malaysia limited liability subsidiary, you'll need at least two shareholders, two directors, and one company secretary. Your secretary must be licensed by the Malaysian Companies Commission (SSM) or a member of a professional association approved by the Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives, and Consumerism.
Malaysian subsidiary laws impose residency restrictions as well. At least one of the directors and your business's secretary must be Malaysian residents, and any foreign investors with more than a 30% stake in the firm must get clearance from a foreign investment committee.
All firms who desire to establish a Malaysian subsidiary must register an office where communication will take place. You may run a virtual office leased from another firm. Simply build the facility within 14 days of legally establishing your firm.
