THE OBJECTIVES OF THE SOCIETY
(a) To foster friendship and promote close and harmonious economic, trade, educational and cultural relations between Britain and Malaysia.
(b) To enter into fraternal relations with any Malaysian or UK body or bodies interested in the foregoing objects.
(c) To promote a greater understanding generally between Britain and Malaysia and in particular the respective business, educational and cultural sectors.
(d) To provide facilities for social meetings and to arrange social activities and gatherings.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the Society is open to any individuals or corporate bodies who subscribe to the Objectives of the Society stated above. The categories of membership shall be determined by the Executive Committee from time to time, initially as set out below.
Individual membership
Individuals may join as a single individual or jointly if married or in a partnership and residing together. Individuals and joint members shall each enjoy the rights of full membership.
Corporate membership
Corporate membership shall be open to any company or entity and corporate members shall have the right to nominate up to five representatives who shall each enjoy the rights of full membership.
SUBSCRIPTIONS
The membership year is from 1 January to 31 December. The annual rates of subscription shall be determined by the Executive Committee. All subscriptions are due on first joining and thereafter annually on 1 January each year except that if a member joins on or after 1 July in any year membership shall continue for the whole of the following calendar year. If any member’s annual subscription renewal remains unpaid by 31 March membership will lapse.
WITHDRAWALS
Any member may, before the end of the year for which that member’s current subscription is valid, by letter or email addressed to the Honorary Secretary, resign from membership with immediate effect. In such cases no refund of any part of that year’s annual subscription shall be made.
EXPULSION OF MEMBERS
Whenever there shall appear to the Executive Committee to be cause for the expulsion of any member of the Society, an explanation of the member's conduct shall be invited by the Honorary Secretary. The explanation (if any), and subject to any further enquiry, shall be laid before the Executive Committee which has the power to terminate the membership of such member.
OFFICERS
The Officers, all of whom shall be Honorary, shall consist of a President, a Chairman, a Deputy Chair, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The Executive Committee shall have the power to create such other honorary positions as it thinks fit, eg Patron, Vice-President.
MANAGEMENT
The management of the Society shall be vested in an Executive Committee elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. The Executive Committee shall consist of such number as the Executive Committee determines from time to time. Four members shall form a quorum. The Executive Committee may co-opt additional members between Annual General Meetings and may establish such sub-committees and appoint such staff as the activities of the Society may require and set appropriate terms of reference. Members of the Executive Committee shall be elected as individuals. Members of the Executive Committee may resign at any time upon giving seven days notice in writing (which may be by email or letter) to the Honorary Secretary.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS
The Executive Committee shall ordinarily meet on notice being given by the Honorary Secretary or Chairman, and will normally meet four times each year. Any four members may at any time convene a meeting by giving not less than seven days’ written notice to the Honorary Secretary. If a member of the Executive Committee fails to attend three consecutive meetings without good reason that member may be asked to stand down from the Committee, the decision of the Chairman in this respect being final.
CHAIRMAN AT MEETINGS
The Chairman, or in his/her absence, the Deputy Chair or any member nominated by those present, shall preside at meetings of the Executive Committee and have a casting vote.
ANNUAL & SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS
An Annual General Meeting of the Society shall be held once in every calendar year on such date as the Executive Committee may decide. At the request to the Honorary Secretary of six members of the Executive Committee, or on the written requisition of ten members of the Society who are not also members of the Executive Committee, the Honorary Secretary shall convene a Special General Meeting of the Society within four weeks of such request being received. The quorum for all General Meetings shall be four members of the Executive Committee and ten members who are not members of the Executive Committee. The notice period for all General Meetings shall be not less than three weeks.
VOTING AT GENERAL MEETINGS
At all General Meetings of the Society every member as provided heretofore shall be entitled to be present and to give one vote each and no more upon every question. In the case of equality of votes the Chairman of the Meeting shall have a casting vote.
SOCIETY ACCOUNTS
The funds of the Society shall be kept by the Honorary Treasurer under the supervision of, and in such place and manner as shall be determined by, the Executive Committee. The financial year of the Society shall end on 31 December in each year to which date the accounts of the Society shall be made up. Such annual accounts, after approval by the Executive Committee, shall be subjected to an external independent examination by an appropriately qualified accountant who shall be appointed annually at the AGM. A copy of the annual accounts so examined shall be made available (either printed or by email) to all members with the notice of the AGM.
AFFILIATION
The Committee may provide for the establishment of regional branches in affiliation with the Society and for the affiliation of such other bodies sharing the objects of the Society on such terms as it may decide.
DISSOLUTION OF THE SOCIETY
If the Society ceases to be active, and remains solvent, any surplus assets shall be distributed to appropriate charities or other not-for-profit organisations as determined by the Executive Committee.
APPROVAL OF THE CONSTITUTION
This constitution shall be considered and if thought fit be approved by the members in General Meeting. Any subsequent amendments to this constitution shall require the approval of the members in General Meeting by simple majority.
APPROVED AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HELD ON 11 MAY 2016 AS AMENDED AT THE AGM ON 21 JUNE 2018