Malaysia
An English-speaking market built on electronics and semiconductors, and the region's easiest entry
For a Central European firm Malaysia is the lowest-friction way into ASEAN: English in government and in business, law on an English tradition, good infrastructure, and Penang as one of the world's centres for semiconductor test and packaging. There is no agreement with the Union yet; talks have been relaunched.
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Setting up a company
Setting up a company and tax are the part of the profile you cannot assemble elsewhere in an afternoon. The rest of the page is open.
- ·Legal forms
- ·Foreign ownership
- ·Minimum capital
- ·How long registration takes
- ·Director and residence
- ·What to watch for
Taxes
Setting up a company and tax are the part of the profile you cannot assemble elsewhere in an afternoon. The rest of the page is open.
- ·Corporate income tax
- ·VAT
- ·Withholding tax — dividends
- ·Withholding tax — royalties
- ·Payroll contributions
What it makes and needs
Semiconductors and electronic components, LNG, palm oil and its derivatives, chemicals and medical gloves.
Precision machinery and metrology, automation, chemical intermediates, food and drink, medical devices and data-centre technology.
Importing into their market
Halal certification is run by JAKIM and is decisive for food and drink; electronics and electrical appliances go through SIRIM approval. Labelling and packaging language have their own rules by category.
The declaration is filed electronically (uCustoms/SMK). The consignment needs an invoice, packing list, transport document, a certificate of origin where a preference is claimed and, depending on the goods, an import permit from the relevant authority.
Labelling must be in Malay or English; food requires composition, weight, importer and use-by date under the Food Regulations. The halal logo may only be carried by a product certified through JAKIM or a recognised foreign body — foreign halal marks without recognition are an infringement.
Practical matters
Malay is the official language, but business, law and government routinely operate in English — the smallest language barrier in the region for a Central European firm.
Malaysia is multi-ethnic and business custom differs with whom you are dealing — the Malay, Chinese and Indian communities each have their own courtesies and pace of decision. Friday afternoon is prayer time for Muslim partners; meetings are not scheduled then.
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