SSM (Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia), the Companies Commission of Malaysia, is the statutory body that registers companies, businesses and limited liability partnerships and enforces the Companies Act 2016. It was created by the Companies Commission of Malaysia Act 2001, which commenced on 16 April 2002, merging the Registrar of Companies and the Registrar of Businesses into a single commission.
- Statutory body created by the Companies Commission of Malaysia Act 2001 (Act 614), in force 16 April 2002
- Merged the Registrar of Companies and the Registrar of Businesses into one commission
- Administers the Companies Act 2016, the Registration of Businesses Act 1956 and the LLP Act 2012
- Runs MyCoID, EzBiz, MBRS 2.0 and e-BOS
- Its Practice Directives carry operative rules the Act text does not — audit exemption, penalties, extension of time
- Licenses and regulates company secretaries in practice
Who this applies to: Anyone identifying which authority governs a Malaysian corporate registration or filing obligation, and which SSM portal or directive answers it.
On this page
At a glance
| Full name | Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia / Companies Commission of Malaysia |
| Type | Statutory body |
| Enabling statute | Companies Commission of Malaysia Act 2001 (Act 614) |
| Assent / publication | 6 September 2001 / 27 September 2001 |
| Commencement | 16 April 2002, by P.U.(B) 127/2002 |
| Reports to | Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living |
| Website | ssm.com.my |
What it administers
| Statute | Subject |
|---|---|
| Companies Act 2016 (Act 777) | Companies, directors, filings, charges, winding up |
| Registration of Businesses Act 1956 | Sole proprietorships and partnerships |
| Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2012 | LLPs |
| Interest Schemes Act 2016 | Interest schemes |
| Companies Commission of Malaysia Act 2001 | The Commission’s own powers and functions |
Portals it runs
- MyCoID — incorporation and company filings for companies and LLPs.
- EzBiz — registration and renewal for businesses under the ROB Act 1956.
- MBRS 2.0 — XBRL lodgement of annual returns, financial statements and exemption certificates, phased in from 1 December 2024.
- e-BOS — the beneficial ownership reporting system.
- Company search / e-Info — public verification of registered entities.
The thing to know about SSM’s rules
Practice Directives carry operative rules the Act text does not. This is not a technicality; it is the difference between a correct answer and an expensive one:
| Rule | Where it actually lives |
|---|---|
| Audit exemption qualifying criteria and thresholds | Practice Directive 10/2024 |
| Late lodgement penalty bands | Practice Directive 1/2017, revised 1 October 2024 |
| Extension of time lead times | Practice Note 3/2018 |
| Beneficial ownership clocks and transition | Practice Directive 9/2024, revised 27 May 2024 |
None of those figures appear in the sections of Act 777. Anyone answering an SSM question from the Act alone is answering from an incomplete source.
Where the practical rules live
| Topic | Article |
|---|---|
| The statute | Companies Act 2016 |
| Incorporating a company | Register a Sdn Bhd |
| Registering an enterprise | Register an enterprise on EzBiz |
| Fees | SSM fees |
| Late lodgement penalties | SSM late lodgement fees |
| XBRL lodgement | MBRS 2.0 |
Do I need to read SSM Practice Directives as well as the Companies Act?
Yes, and this is the commonest source of wrong answers. Audit exemption criteria sit in Practice Directive 10/2024, the late lodgement penalty scale in Practice Directive 1/2017 as revised 1 October 2024, and extension-of-time lead times in Practice Note 3/2018. None of those figures appear in the section text of Act 777.
What is the difference between MyCoID and EzBiz?
MyCoID is the portal for companies and limited liability partnerships — incorporation and company filings. EzBiz is the portal for sole proprietorships and partnerships registered under the Registration of Businesses Act 1956. They are separate systems with separate accounts.
Which ministry does SSM sit under?
SSM reports to the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living. Ministerial portfolios in Malaysia are reorganised periodically, so confirm the current parent ministry on ssm.com.my before relying on it in a formal document.
Sources
- Act 614 — Companies Commission of Malaysia Act 2001 — Attorney General's Chambers of Malaysia
- Companies Act 2016 — legal framework — SSM
- Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia — SSM
Change history
| Version | Date | Change | By |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01.00 | 20 Jul 2026 | Approved and published. | — |