- May 21, 2004
- 2,138
- 648
- 3,213
Last week I received an email from our friend Azmir/Blood Red regarding the official formation of a Malaysian Skyline Club (“MSC”) which he had discussed with another friend, Dr.D. Unfortunately, I did not take him seriously at the time as I was preoccupied with personal matters. Guilty as charged, my sincere apologies to both.
First, let me make it clear that I don’t have a vested interest in this and was simply asked for my opinion. I am not involved in the formation of the MSC (should it materialize) other than supporting the efforts of those who are and seek nothing in return other than the privilege of being a member. I believe a club should be run only by those whom are held in the highest regard by everyone, who are passionate and most importantly who are willing to sacrifice their time and effort to see this through.
Anyway, in an attempt to help get the ball rolling regarding the formal establishment of the Malaysian Skyline Club (“MSC”) as a proper society as recognized by the Registrar of Societies (“ROS”), I’ve decided the first place to start would be on Zerotohundred (“ZTH”) to gauge the interest of the online members while at the same time try to contact as many Nissan Skyline owners in Malaysia who are not active online members or not members at all. Basically, what needs to be discussed hopefully in an open forum are the following:
Fundamental Issues:
These are the basic issues that need to be answered and I have used the example of Skylines Australia (“SAU”) particularly the Western Australia (“WA”) chapter as a benchmark. Obviously it is meant to serve a bare minimum and is meant to provide some guidelines for the discussion.
Legal and Technical Issues:
This is just an overview of what it means to be a proper society or club. It is by no means definitive and is meant to serve as a general overview; it is not comprehensive as there are many more details which I have yet to include as there is no point moving forward unless the questions listed above can be addressed satisfactorily beforehand.
Firstly, what is a society?
The ROS defines a society as an organization or club of more than 7 individuals that exists and operates in Malaysia with members from Malaysia. A society is a legal entity that can sue or be sued in the name of any of its office bearers.
How does one form a society?
There is an application process which has to be made involving various application forms (I think Azmir has all of the relevant forms). The society is governed by a committee of office bearers and these office bearers will be formally lodged with the ROS during the initial registration. At the same time, the constitution or rules of the society must also be included in the application so there has to be a pro tem committee that has to determine the rules of the society prior to the actual application process.
What does running a society involve?
Among other things each year after an AGM or if there isn’t one then within 60 days of the end of the calendar year the ROS requires copies of any amendments to the rules of the society (which cannot be changed without prior notification to the ROS anyway), complete list of members and office bearers etc, address or place of business, accounts for the last financial year just to begin with. The ROS can also request such information at any time.
Who is responsible for all that?
The office bearers are the ones responsible for providing all of the relevant information to the ROS as and when required.
What are office bearers again?
Office bearers are members holding positions in the society such as the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Committee Members.
How does one become an office bearer?
Office bearers will be elected based on the rules of the society and will hold office for the period specified by those rules. Note that those of unsound minds, declared bankrupt, convicted of offence involving fines more than RM2,000 or jail terms of more than 1 year cannot become office bearers.
Before we get ahead of ourselves, it is important for everyone interested to register their interest, provide input on the fundamental issues listed above, help identify the pros and cons of being a formal club and most importantly step forward and help Blood Red and Dr.D make this into reality. It would be advantageous if more information on how clubs like MLOC and CCM were setup and how they operate were available.
Ok BR/Dr.D, over to you guys
First, let me make it clear that I don’t have a vested interest in this and was simply asked for my opinion. I am not involved in the formation of the MSC (should it materialize) other than supporting the efforts of those who are and seek nothing in return other than the privilege of being a member. I believe a club should be run only by those whom are held in the highest regard by everyone, who are passionate and most importantly who are willing to sacrifice their time and effort to see this through.
Anyway, in an attempt to help get the ball rolling regarding the formal establishment of the Malaysian Skyline Club (“MSC”) as a proper society as recognized by the Registrar of Societies (“ROS”), I’ve decided the first place to start would be on Zerotohundred (“ZTH”) to gauge the interest of the online members while at the same time try to contact as many Nissan Skyline owners in Malaysia who are not active online members or not members at all. Basically, what needs to be discussed hopefully in an open forum are the following:
Fundamental Issues:
These are the basic issues that need to be answered and I have used the example of Skylines Australia (“SAU”) particularly the Western Australia (“WA”) chapter as a benchmark. Obviously it is meant to serve a bare minimum and is meant to provide some guidelines for the discussion.
- Is it necessary for a Malaysian Skyline Club to formally exist (meaning registered with the ROS, subject to the various requirements etc of the Societies Act 1966, etc)
- Are all the other clubs in Malaysia registered? (Malaysian Lancer Owners Club (“MLOC”) and the Caldina Club Malaysia (“CCM”) appear to be)
- Who will form the governing body of the club and how are they elected to office?
- Where will the club be based? (ROS requirements)
- Who are potential members and how many members could the MSC attract?
- How does one become a member and what is the criteria?
- How much does it cost to become a member – are there joining fees, yearly dues?
- As a member, what can one expect in return from the MSC? (SAU WA paid members who joined received a welcome pack which included some club merchandise and a membership card which entitled the members to a nominal discount at various automotive workshops)
- What type of club merchandise will the MSC have? (SAU WA had t-shirts, caps, stickers, lanyards, keychains – I have since contacted some suppliers who make these but the costs are either too expensive or they do not make small quantities)
- Is there an online forum for members of MSC to communicate? (SAU WA had forum members and paid members who had access to a separate section of the forums where club activities etc were organized)
- Will MSC events be open to non-members? (SAU had formal and informal events whereby informal ones were open to all car enthusiasts and sometimes co-hosted with other clubs such as Antilag)
- Will the MSC continue to piggyback on the Skyline section of ZTH and if so, will Tom actually allow such an arrangement (doubtful) and if the MSC were to host its own website and forum, how do they attract new members?
Legal and Technical Issues:
This is just an overview of what it means to be a proper society or club. It is by no means definitive and is meant to serve as a general overview; it is not comprehensive as there are many more details which I have yet to include as there is no point moving forward unless the questions listed above can be addressed satisfactorily beforehand.
Firstly, what is a society?
The ROS defines a society as an organization or club of more than 7 individuals that exists and operates in Malaysia with members from Malaysia. A society is a legal entity that can sue or be sued in the name of any of its office bearers.
How does one form a society?
There is an application process which has to be made involving various application forms (I think Azmir has all of the relevant forms). The society is governed by a committee of office bearers and these office bearers will be formally lodged with the ROS during the initial registration. At the same time, the constitution or rules of the society must also be included in the application so there has to be a pro tem committee that has to determine the rules of the society prior to the actual application process.
What does running a society involve?
Among other things each year after an AGM or if there isn’t one then within 60 days of the end of the calendar year the ROS requires copies of any amendments to the rules of the society (which cannot be changed without prior notification to the ROS anyway), complete list of members and office bearers etc, address or place of business, accounts for the last financial year just to begin with. The ROS can also request such information at any time.
Who is responsible for all that?
The office bearers are the ones responsible for providing all of the relevant information to the ROS as and when required.
What are office bearers again?
Office bearers are members holding positions in the society such as the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Committee Members.
How does one become an office bearer?
Office bearers will be elected based on the rules of the society and will hold office for the period specified by those rules. Note that those of unsound minds, declared bankrupt, convicted of offence involving fines more than RM2,000 or jail terms of more than 1 year cannot become office bearers.
Before we get ahead of ourselves, it is important for everyone interested to register their interest, provide input on the fundamental issues listed above, help identify the pros and cons of being a formal club and most importantly step forward and help Blood Red and Dr.D make this into reality. It would be advantageous if more information on how clubs like MLOC and CCM were setup and how they operate were available.
Ok BR/Dr.D, over to you guys
Attachments
-
12.6 KB Views: 197
Last edited by a moderator: