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This guide has been prepared to assist those who are interested to do business in Malaysia.

As Malaysian enters the Recovery stage, an economic recovery plan known as Pelan Jana Semula Ekonomi Negara (PENJANA) has been introduced by the Government. Our Adviser on Short-term Economic Recovery Plan (PENJANA) issued earlier is updated following further information released by the Ministry of Finance.

The spread of the Covid-19 has been a global challenge socially and economically, and Malaysia is not spared from the crisis. In order to overcome the Covid-19 crisis, the Government has taken a strategy comprising of six approaches known as 6R - Resolve, Resilience, Restart, Recovery, Revitalise and Reform. As Malaysian enters the Recovery stage, an economic recovery plan known as Pelan Jana Semula Ekonomi Negara (PENJANA) will be introduced by the Government. This Adviser highlights the various tax measures that were announced as part of the initiatives of the PENJANA.

The Royal Malaysian Customs Department has recently announced another extension of payment deadlines to 30 June 2020. Penalties imposed on tax payments for the following will be fully remitted if the payments are made by 30 June 2020.

Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad (“Bursa Malaysia”) is granting an extension of time of one month to listed issuers with financial year ending (“FYE“) on 31 March 2020 (“said Listed Issuers”) to issue their annual reports that include the annual audited financial statements and the auditors’ and directors’ reports (“AR”), which are due by 31 July 2020 under the Main Listing Requirements (“Main LR”) after considering that the said Listed Issuers may not have adequate time to prepare their AR which contains both financial and non-financial information. As such, the said Listed Issuer shall issue their AR by 31 August 2020 instead of 31 July 2020.

In view that the Movement Control Order is further extended to the fourth phase up until 12 May 2020, the deadlines for payments due to the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (“RMCD”) for the following returns have been further extended to 31 May 2020.

In support of the Government initiatives to ease the economic pressures faced by the corporate community arising from the Covid pandemic, Companies Commission of Malaysia (“SSM”) had on 7 April 2020 (Revised 15 April 2020) issued Practice Directive No. 6/2020 to clarify the special procedures for companies to apply for an extension of time to hold an AGM or to submit a financial statement and reports.

Due to the second extension of the Movement Control Order (“MCO”) for another two weeks from 15 April until 28 April 2020 announced by The Government on 10 April 2020, Bursa Malaysia has on 16 April 2020 announced additional temporary relief measures to listed issuers.

Further to the earlier Prihatin Rakyat Economic Stimulus Package, the Malaysia government announced additional measures valued at RM10 billion on 6 April 2020, aimed in helping businesses in particular SMEs to pull through this challenging period.

With the rising impact of COVID-19 being seen worldwide, all industries will face significant disruption to their supply chain, workforce and cashflow. The right response will depend on the specific circumstances you and your business face. However, when experiencing significant stress or distress, we recommend you focus everything you do around the management of cash.

The official system in the MySToDS portal for a foreign registered person (“FRP”) providing digital services to consumers in Malaysia to submit the returns, pay taxes and other matters as allowed by the Director-General will go live on 1 April 2020

A second economic stimulus package was announced by the Malaysia government on 27 March 2020 to strengthen the economy, as well as necessary measures to provide assistance to all Malaysians who are affected by the COVID-19 outbreak and the movement control order from 18 March 2020 to 14 April 2020.

Due to the further extension of Movement Control Order (“MCO”) announced by the Government on 25 March 2020, Bursa Malaysia had on 26 March 2020 announced additional relief measures to alleviate the impact of Covid-19 on capital market players.

Due to the World Health Organization’s announcement on 11 March 2020, which categorised the COVID-19 outbreak as pandemic and the implementation of the Movement Control Order (“Order”) that is taking effect from 18 March 2020 to 31 March 2020 announced by Government on 16 March 2020; Companies Commission Malaysia (“SSM”), Securities Commission Malaysia (“SC”) and Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad (‘the Exchange”), had on 16 March 2020 and 17 March 2020 respectively announced on the followings

Following the implementation of the Movement Control Order for the period 18 March 2020 to 31 March 2020 (‘this period”), the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia has granted extended deadlines and introduced temporary operating procedures during this period on various income tax, real property gains tax and stamp duty matters.

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