COMPANIES ACT 2016
“director” includes any person occupying the position of director of a corporation by whatever name called and includes a person in accordance with whose directions or instructions the majority of directors of a corporation are accustomed to act and an alternate or substitute director;

A director is a person who is responsible for directing, managing, and overseeing the affairs of a corporation.
The Companies Act 2016 adopts a broad definition of a director. It is not limited to individuals formally appointed as directors. A person may be regarded as a director if he or she performs the functions of a director, exercises significant influence over the board, or serves as an alternate or substitute director.
This broad definition ensures that individuals who effectively control or direct the management of a company cannot avoid their legal duties and responsibilities simply because they hold a different title.

Persons Included in the Definition of Director
1. Appointed Director (De Jure Director)
A person who has been formally appointed as a director in accordance with the Companies Act 2016 and the company's constitution (if any).
Examples include:

• Executive Director
• Non-Executive Director
• Managing Director
• Independent Director

Regardless of the title used, the individual is considered a director if he or she occupies the position of director. 2. De Facto Director
A person who performs the functions and responsibilities of a director without having been formally appointed.
For example, a person who regularly participates in board decisions and exercises the powers of a director may be regarded as a director under the Companies Act 2016. 3. Shadow Director
A shadow director is a person whose directions or instructions the majority of the company's directors are accustomed to follow.
Although not formally appointed, such a person may exercise significant influence over the company's management and may be subject to the same statutory duties and liabilities as a director.
Example:
A major shareholder regularly instructs the board on how to make business decisions, and the majority of the directors consistently follow those instructions.
That individual may be regarded as a shadow director. 4. Alternate or Substitute Director
An alternate or substitute director is a person appointed to act in place of another director during that director's absence or inability to act.
While acting in that capacity, the alternate or substitute director assumes the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the director being represented, subject to the company's constitution and applicable law. Key Responsibilities of a Director
A director is generally responsible for:

• Managing and supervising the company's affairs;
• Acting in good faith in the best interests of the company;
• Exercising powers for a proper purpose;
• Exercising reasonable care, skill, and diligence;
• Avoiding conflicts of interest;
• Ensuring compliance with the Companies Act 2016 and other applicable laws;
• Approving significant corporate decisions; and
• Safeguarding the interests of the company, its shareholders, and, where appropriate, its creditors.

Practical Examples
Example 1 – Appointed Director
Mr. A is officially appointed as a director of ABC Sdn. Bhd. and registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM).
Mr. A is a director under the Companies Act 2016. Example 2 – Shadow Director
Ms. B is not listed as a director, but the board consistently follows her instructions on major business decisions.
Ms. B may be regarded as a shadow director and may owe the same legal duties as a formally appointed director. Example 3 – Alternate Director
Mr. C is appointed as the alternate director for Ms. D during her overseas assignment.
While acting in Ms. D's place, Mr. C is regarded as a director under the Companies Act 2016. Legal Duties of Directors
Directors are subject to statutory and fiduciary duties, including the duty to:

• Act honestly and in good faith;
• Exercise powers for proper purposes;
• Avoid misuse of company property or confidential information;
• Avoid conflicts between personal interests and the interests of the company;
• Exercise reasonable care, skill, and diligence; and
• Comply with the Companies Act 2016 and the company's constitution (if any).

A breach of these duties may result in civil liability, criminal liability, disqualification, or other penalties under the Companies Act 2016.


董事（Director）

“董事”（Director） 包括任何担任公司董事职位的人士，无论其职称为何；亦包括任何公司的大多数董事惯常按照其指示或指令行事的人士（Shadow Director），以及替任董事（Alternate Director）或代理董事（Substitute Director）。

实务说明（Practical Explanation）

董事（Director） 是负责领导、管理及监督公司事务的人士。

《2016 年公司法》对董事采取广义定义，并不限于正式获委任的董事。任何人士如实际履行董事职能、对董事会具有重大影响力，或担任替任董事或代理董事，均可能被视为《2016 年公司法》所称的董事（Director）。

此广义定义旨在确保，任何实际控制或管理公司的人士，不能仅因未正式获委任或使用其他职称，而规避其在法律下应承担的职责及责任。

属于董事定义的人士（Persons Included in the Definition of Director）

1. 正式委任董事（Appointed Director / De Jure Director）

正式委任董事是指依据《2016 年公司法》及公司章程（如有），依法获正式委任担任董事的人士。

常见的董事类别包括：

• 执行董事（Executive Director）；
• 非执行董事（Non-Executive Director）；
• 董事总经理（Managing Director）；以及
• 独立董事（Independent Director）。

无论其职称为何，只要实际担任董事职位，即属于《2016 年公司法》所定义的董事。

2. 事实董事（De Facto Director）

事实董事是指虽然未经正式委任，但实际上履行董事职责及行使董事权力的人士。

例如，某人长期参与董事会决策，并实际管理公司事务，即使未正式登记为董事，仍可能被视为事实董事，并须承担董事应负的法律责任。

3. 幕后董事（Shadow Director）

幕后董事（Shadow Director）是指公司的大多数董事惯常依照其指示或指令行事的人士。

虽然该人士并未正式担任董事职位，但因其对公司管理具有实际控制或重大影响力，因此可能须承担与正式董事相同的法定职责及法律责任。

例子：

某主要股东长期指示董事会如何作出重大商业决策，而董事会大多数董事均惯常遵从其指示。

该名主要股东可能被视为幕后董事（Shadow Director）。

4. 替任董事或代理董事（Alternate or Substitute Director）

替任董事（Alternate Director）或代理董事（Substitute Director）是指获委任于原董事缺席、无法履职或暂时不能执行职务期间，代替其履行董事职责的人士。

于履职期间，替任董事或代理董事依法享有与原董事相同的权力，并承担相应职责及责任，但须受公司章程（如有）及适用法律所规限。

董事的主要职责（Key Responsibilities of a Director）

董事一般负责：

• 管理及监督公司的业务及事务（Managing and Supervising the Company's Affairs）；
• 以诚信及符合公司最佳利益的方式履行职责（Acting in Good Faith in the Best Interests of the Company）；
• 为适当目的行使其权力（Exercising Powers for a Proper Purpose）；
• 以合理的谨慎、技能及勤勉履行职责（Exercising Reasonable Care, Skill and Diligence）；
• 避免利益冲突（Avoiding Conflicts of Interest）；
• 确保公司遵守《2016 年公司法》及其他适用法律（Ensuring Compliance with Applicable Laws）；
• 批准重大公司事务及企业决策（Approving Significant Corporate Decisions）；以及
• 保障公司、股东及在适当情况下债权人的利益（Safeguarding the Interests of the Company, Shareholders and, Where Appropriate, Creditors）。

实务示例（Practical Examples）

例子一：正式委任董事（Appointed Director）

A 先生获正式委任为 ABC Sdn. Bhd. 的董事，并已向马来西亚公司委员会（SSM）完成登记。

因此，A 先生属于《2016 年公司法》所定义的董事（Director）。

例子二：幕后董事（Shadow Director）

B 女士并未登记为董事，但董事会长期按照其指示作出重大商业决定。

在此情况下，B 女士可能被视为幕后董事（Shadow Director），并须承担与正式董事相同的法律责任。

例子三：替任董事（Alternate Director）

C 先生于 D 女士出国期间获委任为其替任董事。

在代替 D 女士履行董事职务期间，C 先生依法属于《2016 年公司法》所定义的董事（Director）。

董事的法定职责（Legal Duties of Directors）

董事须履行法定责任及受信责任（Statutory and Fiduciary Duties），包括：

• 诚实及真诚行事（Act Honestly and in Good Faith）；
• 为正当目的行使董事权力（Exercise Powers for Proper Purposes）；
• 不得滥用公司资产或机密资料（Avoid Misuse of Company Property or Confidential Information）；
• 避免个人利益与公司利益发生冲突（Avoid Conflicts of Interest）；
• 以合理的谨慎、技能及勤勉履行职责（Exercise Reasonable Care, Skill and Diligence）；以及
• 遵守《2016 年公司法》及公司章程（如有）（Comply with the Companies Act 2016 and the Company's Constitution）。

如董事违反上述职责，可能须承担：

• 民事责任（Civil Liability）；
• 刑事责任（Criminal Liability）；
• 被取消担任董事资格（Disqualification）；或
• 《2016 年公司法》规定的其他法律制裁及处罚。

重要性（Importance）

董事（Director） 是公司治理（Corporate Governance）的核心管理者，对公司的经营方向、决策及合规承担最终责任。

《2016 年公司法》采用广义的董事定义，确保所有实际控制、管理或影响公司事务的人士，无论是否正式获委任，均须依法履行董事职责并承担相应法律责任。

此制度有助于：

• 提升公司治理水平；
• 防止利用幕后操控规避法律责任；
• 保障股东、债权人及其他利益相关者的权益；以及
• 维护企业经营的诚信、透明度及问责制度。