Will the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA) take action on this?

Will the MIA investigate the allegations against member no 2190, Chin Kwai Fatt, seen here unveiling a logo?

We said in this post and in the subsequent two, that the MD of PwC Malaysia signed a false declaration with regards to the  firm known as PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting Sdn Bhd (464379-U). We continue with further elements to the argument.

Chin Kwai Fatt attested to the fact that PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting Sdn Bhd (464379-U), in the year 2008 appeared to have been able to meet its liabilities as and when they fall due.

Here, Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia (SSM) defines what it means by liabilities under the Companies Commission of Malaysia Act 2001:

"liabilities" means liabilities, debts, charges, duties and obligations of every description whether present or future, actual or contingent, and whether payable or to be observed or performed in Malaysia or elsewhere; 

Did Chin Kwai Fatt disclose the contingent liabilities that PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting Sdn Bhd (464379-U) holds, arising from several lawsuits it faces in the courts, amounting to several hundred million Ringgit?

Did Chin Kwai Fatt, as the Director of PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting Sdn Bhd (464379-U), ensure that the company was able to pass the cash flow solvency test (an impossibility since the company ceased operations the following year) and the balance sheet solvency test, so that his declaration was valid?

Can PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting Sdn Bhd (464379-U), which has ceased operations (no more cash flow) and does not hold assets that are enough to meet its contingent liabilities (balance sheet solvency), meet its liabilities as defined by the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM)?

The MIA has issued a circular to all its members, regarding Practice Note 1/2008 issued by the SSM.

18 Jun 2008

Company Law - Circular 37/2008

TO ALL ACCOUNTANTS

PRACTICE NOTE NO 1/2008 ISSUED BY THE COMPANIES COMMISSION OF MALAYSIA (SSM) ON REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO THE LODGEMENT OF ANNUAL RETURN OF COMPANIES
Members are hereby informed that the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) has recently issued Practice Note No. 1/2008 on the requirements under Section 165 of the Companies Act 1965 (CA 1965) which relates to the lodgement of annual return with the Registrar of Companies (ROC). This practice note further emphasises the SSM’s stance for annual return to be lodged together with audited accounts.

Some of the key areas highlighted in the Practice Note No. 1/2008 are:-
 

-	The lodgement of the annual return of a company shall be in accordance with the Eighth Schedule to the CA 1965 and be accompanied by such copies of documents as are required or such certificates or other particulars as prescribed in Part II of that Schedule.
-	Part II of the Eighth Schedule requires the following attachment:
	(i) a copy of the last audited accounts comprising the balance sheet and profit & loss accounts (including every document required to be attached thereto); and (ii) a copy of the auditor's report.
-	Part II of the Eighth Schedule requires the following attachment in the case of an exempt private company which is solvent:
	(i) audited accounts; or (ii) certificate signed by a director, a company secretary and auditor stating that: (a) the company is an exempt private company; (b) an audited accounts in compliance with CA 1965 has been tabled in the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM); and (c) the company is able to meet its liabilities as and when they fall due as at the date of the audited profit and loss account.
In this regard, the practice adopted by some companies which lodge annual returns without attaching the audited accounts is not in accordance with the requirements of the CA 1965 as well as the principles of good corporate governance. Therefore, the lodgement of annual returns without the attachment as prescribed in Part II of Eighth Schedule as mentioned above will be considered as incomplete submission and will not be acceptable by ROC.

The lodgement of annual returns with respect to AGMs held in the calendar year 2008 and thereafter would only be accepted for lodgement by ROC if they are accompanied with a copy of the relevant audited accounts or, where applicable, a duly signed certificate relating to exempt private company.

Please take note that the complete set of Practice Note No 1/2008 is available at MIA website at www.mia.org.my under Technical / Areas / Corporate Law & Insolvency /Company Law.

Please be guided accordingly.

HO FOONG MOI (MS)
Executive Director
On behalf of the Registrar

In 2009 the returns submitted by PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting Sdn Bhd (464379-U), which can be viewed in its entirety here, does not meet the Practice 1/2008 of the SSM or the circular from MIA.

The Chairman of the MIA Investigation Committee is Mr Kang Wei Geih, Billy, and its members are Uthaya Kumar a/l Vivekananda, Abraham Verghese, Datuk Mohd Nasir Bin Ahmad and Dr. Ku Nor Izah Ku Ismail.

Uthaya Kumar a/l Vivekananda is the same VU Kumar who is a Senior Partner of PwC in Malaysia, so we ask him this once again : as a member of the MIA Investigation Committee, have you started your investigations on the many, many allegations raised here relating to your fellow senior partners yet?

VU Kumar 

Will the MIA take action on the allegations here, or leave everything to Mr VU Kumar?