Setting up a business in Sarawak

Establishing a company in Sarawak is simple – and it is made easier by the fact that your account manager will help you every step of the way.


1. Select your company name

Decide on your company name and run a check with the Companies Commission of Malaysia to make sure it is not the same as any existing company name in Malaysia.


2. Select company type

If you wish to incorporate a foreign company in Sarawak, please refer to Incorporation of Foreign Company.

If you wish to incorporate a local company, please refer to Incorporation of Local Company.


3. Register and incorporate your company

A company can be incorporated in Sarawak with any amount of share capital. There is no statutory requirement for the minimum amount of authorised share capital, though different registration fees apply depending on the share capital involved. For more information on the incorporation process, please refer to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA).


4. Open your bank account

Once the company is registered and incorporated, you’ll need to open a bank account. If you have already recruited administrative staff, they can easily do this for you. If you have not yet recruited any staff, your account manager will help you.


5. Choosing the location for your business

SCORE offers ideal locations and opportunities for many different industries. For more information, please refer to SCORE Areas.


6. Immigration and visas

Every person entering Sarawak must have a valid passport or internationally recognised travel document valid for travel to Malaysia. This must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry.

For more information on immigration procedures, please refer to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA).


5. Choosing the location for your business

SCORE offers ideal locations and opportunities for many different industries. For more information, please refer to SCORE Areas.


7. Employing expatriates

All investors are encouraged to employ Sarawakians. Where there is a shortage of skilled or trained Malaysians, companies are allowed to bring in expatriate personnel to fill key posts.

For more information on the employment of expatriate personnel, please refer to the relevant page of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA)website.

Only nationals of the following countries can be employed on the factory floor in the manufacturing sector:

  • Indonesia
  • Cambodia
  • Nepal
  • Myanmar
  • Laos
  • Vietnam
  • Philippines (male only)
  • Pakistan
  • Sri Lanka
  • Thailand
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uzbekistan
  • Kazakhstan

All applications for foreign workers must be submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs.


8. Employment Regulations

A number of significant changes have been made recently to the Employment Act 1955. These include:

  • Bolstering maternity-related entitlements
  • Introducing specific guidelines to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace
  • Introducing personal liability for Directors
  • Raising wage thresholds

 


Ferroalloys complex at Samalaju Industrial Park

MAIDEN PROJECT: Photo shows AML’s three-dimension design of the ferroalloys complex at Samalaju Industrial Park.