Art. 1 Name and Office
Under the name of the Malaysian Swiss Association (MSA) and pursuant to the general meeting held on the 28th March 1992, was established an Association under the Civil Code Art. 60ff, with its headquarters in Zürich. The address for communication purposes for the time being and which is subject to changes is Postfach 2713, 8021 Zürich.
Art. 2 Object of Association
The objects for which the Association is established are unrestricted and shall include, but without limitation, the following:
2.1 To foster and strengthen relationships among Malaysians, Malaysian / Swiss Families, and Malaysian friends in Switzerland.
2.2 To promote Malaysian culture and identity and integration in Switzerland.
2.3 To mediate understanding, development, and friendship by maintaining regular contacts among Malaysians living in Switzerland.
2.4 Organising Social events / Extracurricular activities.
Art. 3 Membership
Membership is open to any Malaysians, and non-Malaysians who are residents of Switzerland. These members will have the following active member privileges: -
3.1 Active Member
3.1.1 Subject to clause 3.2 of this article, all Malaysians, their spouses, and their families are to be considered active members of the Association.
3.1.2 Only an active member, his/her spouse, and children above 14 years of age are entitled to vote at general meetings.
3.1.3 Individual members are viewed as active members shall each enjoy the rights of full membership and have the right to stand for election as committee members.
3.2 Any individual wanting to be a member of the Association has to fill in the registration form and send this form together with the subscription fee for the year to the Treasurer of the Association.
Membership is only valid upon receipt of the registration form and subscription fee.
3.3 Individuals and joint members shall each enjoy the rights of full membership and have the right to hold committee roles except for President & Vice President are reserved for Malaysians
residing in Switzerland.
Art. 4 Cancellation of Membership
Cancellation of membership takes place upon the occurrence of the following: -
4.1 Death.
4.2 Receipt of letter from a member requesting cancellation of membership. The subscription fee will not be prorated and refunded to ex-member upon cancellation of membership.
4.3 Non-payment of subscription fee after a due reminder has been given to members for one year.
4.4 Membership may also be canceled by the Committee members. Members may be requested to resign by the Committee if they were found acting against the Association, policy, objectives, and code of conduct. Members who have been requested to resign, have the right to make an appeal at General Meeting.
Art. 5 Organisation
The organization of the Association shall comprise the following:
5.1 General Meeting
5.1.1 The Association shall in each year of its existence hold a General Meeting as its Annual General Meeting and shall specify the meeting as such in the invitations calling it. The Annual General
meeting shall be held at such time and place as the Committee members shall decide.
5.1.2 At least two weeks’ notice shall be given of an Annual General Meeting or any other general meeting. Every notice or invitation shall be exclusive of the day on which it is given and shall
specify the place, the day and the hour of the meeting, and the general nature of the business.
5.1.3 The Committee may whenever they think fit, and they shall on the requisition of 1/4 of the existing members of the Association, proceed to convene a general meeting of the Association. A
general meeting convened as aforesaid by requisitions shall be convened in the same manner as that in which general meetings are to be convened by the Committee members. The requisition
must state the object of the meeting and must be signed by the requisitions and deposited at the office of the Association.
5.1.4 No business shall be transacted at any General Meeting unless it has been announced with the invitation to a general meeting.
5.1.5 The President of the Committee shall preside as Chairman at every general meeting of the Association, when if he/she shall not be present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for
the holding of the meeting, or is unwilling to act, the Vice Presidents present shall elect one of their number to be Chairman of the meeting.
5.1.6 At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands unless a poll is, before or on the declaration of the results of the show of hands,
demanded by the majority of members present in person or by proxy. Decisions are made with a simple majority of members present.
5.1.7 Subject to any rights or restrictions herein mentioned, every member of record present in person or by proxy shall be in writing and shall be executed under the hand of the appointer.
5.1.8 Powers of General Meeting are as follows: -
5.1.8.1 Election Committee members and auditors
5.1.8.2 Approval of accounts.
5.1.8.3 Approval of annual budget and subscription fee
5.1.8.4 Amend Associations statutes.
5.1.8.5 Dissolve the Association.
5.1.8.6 Review appeal
5.2 Committee Members
5.2.1 There shall be a Committee consisting of not more than seven persons. HOWEVER that the Association may from time to time by resolution of members at general meetings increase or reduce
the limits on the number of Committee members. The committee shall comprise of the following: -
5.2.1.1 President
5.2.1.2 A Vice President
5.2.1.3 A Public Relation-Officer (new, as decided by the Committee)
5.2.1.4 Secretary
5.2.1.5 Treasurer
5.2.1.6 General Affairs Officer
5.2.2 There shall always be a Malaysian filling the positions of President and Vice President as decided in the General Meeting.
5.2.3 Committee Responsibilities
5.2.3.1 The management of the affairs of the Association shall be managed by the Committee members who may pay all expenses incurred in promoting, registering, and setting up the Association.
5.2.3.2 The Committee members may from time to time provide for the management of the Affairs of the Association in such manner as they shall think fit.
5.2.3.3 The Committee members from time to time and at any time may establish any support group, sub-committees, and project teams to undertake certain tasks or organize certain social events.
5.2.3.4 The secretary shall cause minutes to be made in books provided for the purpose:
1. of all appointments of Committee members made at General Meeting and their respective names
2. of all resolutions and proceedings at all meetings of the Association and of the Committee members.
5.2.3.5 All cheques, payments, bills, and all receipts for monies paid to the Association shall be signed, drawn, accepted endorsed, or otherwise executed as the case may be jointly by either the
President, Vice Presidents, or Treasurer.
5.2.3.6 The quorum necessary for the transaction of the meeting of the Committee members shall be four PROVIDED ALWAYS that there shall at any time by either the President or the Vice President.
The Committee may meet and adjourn as it thinks proper. Questions and proposals arising at any meeting shall be determined by a simple majority of votes of the members present.
5.2.3.7 The President or Vice President may, and the Secretary on the requisition of either the President or Vice President shall, at any time summon a meeting of the Committee members by at least
two weeks’ notice.
5.2.3.8 Committee members elected at General Meeting shall hold their offices for a period of three years, PROVIDED ALWAYS that these offices are held for not more than six years. Committee
members may be re-elected by resolution at General Meeting.
5.2.3.9 Committee members may resign after a period of six months after being elected. A letter of resignation is to be sent to the Secretary of the Committee.
5.2.3.10 A Committee member not acting in the best interest of the Association may be removed from office by a simple majority of votes of the Committee members.
5.2.3.11 The duties of the Committee members are unrestricted and shall include, but without limitation, the following: -
1. They are to act in the best interests of the Association and its members, in line with the policies and objectives laid out in the statutes.
2. To convene General Meeting and present relevant matters to be considered at General Meeting
3. Diligent execution of the decisions or resolutions adopted by General Meeting.
4. To cause proper books of account to be kept with respect to all sums of money received and expended by the Association and the matters in respect of which the receipt or expenditure takes place.
5. To present work or social programs and budget at General Meeting.
5.3 Auditors
5.3.1 The Association may at any Annual General Meeting appoint an Auditor or Auditors of the Association who shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting.
5.3.2 Every Auditor of the Association shall have a right of access at all times to the books and accounts and vouchers of the association and shall be entitled to require from Committee members
such information and explanation as may be necessary for the performance of the duties of the auditors.
5.3.3 Auditors shall at the next Annual General Meeting following their appointment and at any other time during their term of Office, upon request of the Committee members or General Meeting,
make a report on the accounts of the Association in the general meeting during their tenure of office.
Art. 6 Finance
6.1 For maintenance of its functions, the Association can raise funds from the following: -
1. Annual subscription fee from members.
2. Donations, Contributions and Sponsorships.
3. Any revenue made from social events organized by the Association.
Art. 7 Dissolution
7.1 The dissolution of the Association can only be decided at General Meeting PROVIDED that it is approved by two-third (2/3) majority of the members present.
7.2 Upon approval of dissolution by members, final accounts are to be prepared and reviewed by the Auditors and approved by a majority of members at the general meeting.
7.3 Upon dissolution, all assets belonging to the Association after paying third party liabilities will be distributed to a charitable organisation, subject to the approval of the General Meeting.
Amended, 14th August 2021, EGM