COMPANIES ACT 2016
“liquidator” includes the Official Receiver when acting as the liquidator of a corporation;
A liquidator is the person appointed to administer the winding up of a corporation. The liquidator takes control of the company's affairs after liquidation commences, collects and realises its assets, settles its liabilities, and distributes any remaining assets in accordance with the Companies Act 2016.
The definition expressly provides that the term "liquidator" includes the Official Receiver whenever the Official Receiver is appointed or acts as the liquidator of a corporation. Accordingly, references to a "liquidator" in the Companies Act 2016 include both:
• A private approved liquidator appointed under the Act; and
• The Official Receiver, when performing the functions of a liquidator.
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Who Can Be a Liquidator?
A liquidator may be:
1. Approved Liquidator
A professionally qualified person approved under the Companies Act 2016 to conduct corporate liquidation proceedings.
Approved liquidators are commonly appointed in:
• Members' voluntary winding up;
• Creditors' voluntary winding up; and
• Court-ordered winding up where the Court appoints a private liquidator.
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2. Official Receiver
The Official Receiver is a public officer who may act as the liquidator in circumstances provided by law.
When performing this role, the Official Receiver has the same statutory powers, duties, and responsibilities as any other liquidator under the Companies Act 2016.
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Functions of a Liquidator
A liquidator is responsible for managing the winding up of a corporation by:
• Taking custody and control of the company's assets;
• Investigating the company's financial affairs;
• Identifying and collecting the company's assets;
• Adjudicating creditors' claims;
• Selling or otherwise realising company assets;
• Paying creditors according to the statutory order of priority;
• Distributing any surplus assets to members where applicable;
• Reporting to creditors, members, and the Court where required; and
• Completing the winding-up process leading to the company's dissolution.
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Powers of a Liquidator
Subject to the Companies Act 2016 and, where applicable, the supervision of the Court, a liquidator may:
• Carry on the company's business where necessary for its beneficial winding up;
• Sell company assets;
• Compromise or settle claims;
• Institute or defend legal proceedings on behalf of the company;
• Execute documents in the company's name;
• Recover debts owing to the company; and
• Perform all acts necessary for the efficient administration of the liquidation.
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Practical Examples
Example 1 – Members' Voluntary Winding Up
ABC Sdn. Bhd. is solvent and resolves to wind up voluntarily.
The members appoint an approved liquidator to administer the liquidation.
The appointed person is the liquidator.
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Example 2 – Creditors' Voluntary Winding Up
XYZ Sdn. Bhd. is unable to pay its debts.
The creditors appoint an approved liquidator to realise the company's assets and distribute the proceeds among creditors.
The appointed person is the liquidator.
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Example 3 – Official Receiver Acting as Liquidator
The Court orders the winding up of DEF Sdn. Bhd. and the Official Receiver is appointed to administer the liquidation.
Although the Official Receiver is a public officer, he is regarded as the liquidator for the purposes of the Companies Act 2016 while acting in that capacity.
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Duties of a Liquidator
A liquidator must:
• Act honestly, independently, and in good faith;
• Exercise reasonable care, skill, and diligence;
• Preserve and maximise the value of the company's assets;
• Treat creditors fairly in accordance with the statutory priority rules;
• Maintain proper books and records of the liquidation;
• Comply with all reporting obligations under the Companies Act 2016; and
• Complete the liquidation efficiently and lawfully.
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Compliance Requirements
A liquidator should ensure that:
• The appointment is valid under the Companies Act 2016;
• All statutory notices and filings are made with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM);
• Company assets are properly safeguarded and realised;
• Creditors' claims are dealt with in accordance with the Act;
• Accurate liquidation accounts and records are maintained; and
• The company is dissolved only after the winding-up process has been properly completed.
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Importance
The definition of "liquidator" ensures that the Companies Act 2016 applies equally to both approved liquidators and the Official Receiver whenever either performs the functions of administering a corporate winding up. By expressly including the Official Receiver within the definition, the Act provides legal certainty regarding the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the person responsible for managing the liquidation process. This promotes the orderly administration of insolvent and solvent liquidations, protects the interests of creditors and shareholders, and upholds the integrity of Malaysia's corporate insolvency framework.
《2016 年公司法》
“清盘人”（Liquidator） 包括官方接管人（Official Receiver）在担任公司清盘人时的身份。
清盘人（Liquidator） 是指获委任负责管理公司**清盘程序（Winding Up）**的人士。
当公司开始清盘后，清盘人将接管公司的事务，负责：
- 接管及保管公司资产；
- 调查公司的财务状况；
- 收集及变现公司资产；
- 清偿公司的债务及负债；以及
- 按照《2016 年公司法》的规定，将剩余资产分配予有权领取的人士。
《2016 年公司法》特别规定，“清盘人” 的定义**包括官方接管人（Official Receiver）**在其担任公司清盘人期间。
因此，《2016 年公司法》中凡提及**“清盘人（Liquidator）”**，均包括：
- 根据《2016 年公司法》获委任的认可清盘人（Approved Liquidator）；以及
- **官方接管人（Official Receiver）**在履行清盘人职务时。
谁可以担任清盘人？（Who Can Be a Liquidator?）
1. 认可清盘人（Approved Liquidator）
认可清盘人是依据《2016 年公司法》获批准，具有专业资格负责处理公司清盘事务的人士。
认可清盘人通常获委任处理：
- 成员自愿清盘（Members' Voluntary Winding Up）；
- 债权人自愿清盘（Creditors' Voluntary Winding Up）；以及
- 法院命令清盘（Court-Ordered Winding Up）中，由法院委任私人清盘人的情况。
2. 官方接管人（Official Receiver）
官方接管人（Official Receiver） 是依据相关法律委任的政府公职人员。
在法律规定的情况下，官方接管人可获委任担任公司清盘人。
当官方接管人履行清盘人职责时，其依法享有与其他清盘人相同的法定权力、职责及责任。
清盘人的职能（Functions of a Liquidator）
清盘人负责管理整个公司清盘程序，包括：
- 接管及控制公司的资产；
- 调查公司的财务状况及业务事务；
- 查明及收集公司的资产；
- 审核及裁定债权人的债权申请；
- 出售或以其他方式变现公司资产；
- 按照法定清偿顺序偿还债权人；
- 如有剩余资产，依法分配予公司成员（股东）；
- 按法律规定向债权人、成员及法院提交报告；以及
- 完成整个清盘程序，直至公司依法解散（Dissolution）。
清盘人的权力（Powers of a Liquidator）
在遵守《2016 年公司法》及（如适用）法院监督的前提下，清盘人可行使以下权力：
- 在有利于清盘的情况下继续经营公司的业务；
- 出售公司资产；
- 与债务人或债权人协商及和解债权债务；
- 代表公司提出诉讼或应诉；
- 以公司名义签署文件；
- 追讨公司应收债务；以及
- 采取一切合理及必要措施，以有效完成清盘工作。
实务示例（Practical Examples）
例子一：成员自愿清盘（Members' Voluntary Winding Up）
ABC Sdn. Bhd. 具有偿债能力，并通过决议进行成员自愿清盘。
公司成员委任一名认可清盘人负责整个清盘程序。
该获委任人士即为公司的清盘人（Liquidator）。
例子二：债权人自愿清盘（Creditors' Voluntary Winding Up）
XYZ Sdn. Bhd. 无力偿还债务。
债权人委任一名认可清盘人接管公司资产，并将变现所得依法分配予债权人。
该获委任人士即为公司的清盘人。
例子三：官方接管人担任清盘人（Official Receiver Acting as Liquidator）
法院命令DEF Sdn. Bhd. 进行清盘，并委任**官方接管人（Official Receiver）**负责管理整个清盘程序。
虽然官方接管人为政府公职人员，但在履行清盘人职务期间，根据《2016 年公司法》，其法律地位即为公司的清盘人（Liquidator）。
清盘人的法定职责（Duties of a Liquidator）
清盘人必须：
- 诚实、独立及善意地履行职责；
- 以合理的谨慎、专业技能及勤勉态度执行职务；
- 妥善保管及尽量提高公司资产价值；
- 按照法定清偿顺序公平对待所有债权人；
- 妥善保存清盘期间的账簿、记录及账目；
- 履行《2016 年公司法》规定的所有申报及报告责任；以及
- 依法、高效及专业地完成整个清盘程序。
合规要求（Compliance Requirements）
清盘人应确保：
- 委任程序符合《2016 年公司法》的规定；
- 所有法定通知及文件均按时提交予马来西亚公司委员会（Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia，SSM）；
- 公司资产获得妥善保管、管理及变现；
- 债权人的债权按照《2016 年公司法》规定处理；
- 妥善保存准确的清盘账目及相关记录；以及
- 公司仅于整个清盘程序依法完成后，方正式解散。
重要性（Importance）
“清盘人（Liquidator）” 的定义确保《2016 年公司法》能够同等适用于**认可清盘人（Approved Liquidator）及官方接管人（Official Receiver）**在执行公司清盘职务时的情况。
透过明确将官方接管人纳入清盘人的定义，《2016 年公司法》进一步厘清负责管理公司清盘程序人士的法律地位、权力、职责及责任。
这一制度的重要意义包括：
- 确保具备法定资格的人士依法管理公司清盘事务；
- 提高有偿债能力及无偿债能力公司清盘程序的公平性、透明度及效率；
- 保障债权人、股东及其他利益相关者的合法权益；
- 维护公司资产得以依法管理及分配；以及
- 建立健全及具法律确定性的马来西亚企业破产与清盘制度，进一步维护企业治理及商业诚信。
Malaysia
