Need Help With Your Company's Compliance?

Talk to our team to make sure your business stays on top of SSM and tax compliance requirements.

Contact Us
WhatsApp Us

What Is MAICSA and Why It Matters

If you have been reading up on how to appoint a company secretary in Malaysia, you have probably come across the term “MAICSA” more than once. It is not just industry jargon. Knowing what MAICSA is — and why it is used as a benchmark — helps you ask sharper questions when you are evaluating who should handle your company’s statutory compliance.

What Is MAICSA?

MAICSA stands for the Malaysian Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators. It is a professional body that represents and regulates chartered secretaries in Malaysia, and it is one of the bodies recognised under the Companies Act 2016 whose members are eligible to be registered as company secretaries with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM).In practice, MAICSA sets the professional standards for its members — covering qualification requirements, ethical conduct, and ongoing professional development. When someone tells you they are a member of MAICSA, they are signalling that they have gone through a recognised qualification pathway and remain accountable to a professional body, not just to SSM’s licensing requirement alone. [VERIFY WITH MAICSA WEBSITE for the current qualification structure and designation titles, such as ACIS or FCIS]

Why MAICSA Membership Matters When Choosing a Company Secretary

  • Professional standard: MAICSA membership generally reflects a formal qualification pathway focused specifically on corporate governance, company law, and secretarial practice.
  • Continuing education: Professional bodies like MAICSA typically require members to keep up with continuing professional development.
  • Accountability: A MAICSA member is answerable to the institute’s code of conduct and disciplinary process, in addition to SSM’s oversight.
  • Depth of practice exposure: Many MAICSA members work across a range of corporate structures, which can matter if your business is scaling.
None of this means a non-MAICSA company secretary is automatically less capable. It simply means MAICSA membership is one useful, verifiable signal among several you should be checking.

MAICSA vs Other Recognised Bodies (MIA, MACS, Malaysian Bar)

Under the Companies Act 2016, individuals who are members of certain prescribed bodies — or who hold an SSM practising certificate directly — can be registered as company secretaries. The commonly recognised bodies include MAICSA, the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA), the Malaysian Association of Company Secretaries (MACS), and the Malaysian Bar.
  • MAICSA: Focused specifically on chartered secretarial practice and corporate governance.
  • MIA: Represents chartered accountants; members often combine secretarial work with accounting and tax services.
  • MACS: A body specifically for company secretaries, distinct from MAICSA but serving a similar registration function.
  • Malaysian Bar: Practising lawyers are also eligible, given the legal grounding relevant to corporate compliance work.
The practical takeaway: all four routes can produce a fully qualified, SSM-registered company secretary. What differs is the professional background each body’s members typically bring.

How to Verify a Company Secretary's Credentials

  • Ask directly: Ask which professional body they belong to and request their membership or practising certificate number.
  • Cross-check with SSM: Confirm the individual holds a valid SSM practising certificate.
  • Check standing with the body: Confirm the membership is active and in good standing. [VERIFY WITH MAICSA WEBSITE for their current member verification process]
  • Assess relevant experience: Ask about their track record with companies of your size and structure.
For membership details, qualification pathways, and the official code of ethics governing chartered secretaries in Malaysia, visit the MAICSA official website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Not automatically. MAICSA membership is a strong professional signal, but experience and fit with your business also matter.
Yes. Some firms bundle company secretarial and accounting services under one roof.
No. SSM registration can also be obtained through other prescribed bodies or a direct SSM practising certificate.
Ask for their membership number and verify it directly with MAICSA, alongside checking their SSM practising certificate.