CONSTITUTION OF THE MAJLIS PUSAT SINGAPORE
Name of Organisation
This organisation shall be known as “Majlis Pusat Singapore” hereinafter referred to as the ‘Society
Place of Business
- II.
The place of business of the Majlis Pusat shall be at 93 Toa Payoh Central, Toa Payoh Central Community Club, and #06-01 Singapore 319194 or at any other place decided by the Central Council, subject to the approval of the Registrar of Societies.
Interpretation
III
(1)
In this constitution, unless the context otherwise requires: – (a) “EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE” means the Executive Committee of
the Majlis Pusat;
(b) “FUND” means Majlis Pusat’s Fund and includes all
subsciptions, donations, bequests, interest and dividends and all movable or immovable property received, acquired or held by Majlis Pusat;
(C) “PRESIDENT” means the President of Majlis Pusat.
(2)
“Unless otherwise provided for in this constitution, words or expressions herein contained shall be interpreted in accordance with the provisions of the Interpretation Act 1965 as may be amended from time to time”.
Membership Qualification & Rights
IV
Ordinary Membership shall be opened to all Singaporeans who are 21 years of age and above. All Ordinary Members shall have the right to vote and to hold office in the Society.
(2)
Associate Membership (Organisation) shall be opened to former affiliate organisations of Majlis Pusat. Associate Member Organisations shall have no rights to vote and hold office in the Society.
Associate Membership (Individuals) shall be opened to persons who are 21 years of age and above. Associate Members shall have no rights to vote and hold office in the Society
Any person wishing to join the Society should submit his particulars to the Secretary General on a prescribed form
The Executive Committee will decide on the application of the membership
A copy of the Constitution shall be furnished to every approved member.
(6)
There shall be no entrance or subscriptions fees payable for all members.
Patrons
- V.
The Society may, on the recommendation of the Executive Committee, at any Biennial General Meeting, nominate suitable persons to be Patron-in Chief and Patrons of the Society.
Board of Trustees
Majlis Pusat may, on the recommendation of the Executive Committee, nominate, at its Bienniel General Meeting, a number of prominent persons to sit on the Board of Trustees. Such number shall be THREE. They shall hold office for two years but are eligible for re-nomination at the end of each two year term.
(2)
The Board of Trustees shall consist of a Chairman and two Board members. The Chairman of the Board of Trustees shall be appointed by the Executive Committee.
(3)
The Board of Trustees shall hold on trust the assets and properties of the Society and to transfer, convey or assign such assets and properties whenever it is required to do so.
A member of the Board of Trustees may be removed before the completion of his service by the Society on the recommendation of the Executive Committee, or he may resign on his own accord.
In exceptional circumstances the Executive Committee may remove any member of the Board of Trustees after reviewing the matter and the Executive Committee is satisfied and unanimously agreed that he be removed.
The terms of office of any member of the Board of Trustees may be renewed by the Society on the advice of the Executive Committee.
Any member of the Board of Trustees may, of he wishes; request for his term of office to be discontinued after the term of office has expired.
(8)
The Board of Trustees shall hold meetings as and when the occasion arises.
Objects of the Society VII (1) The objects of the Society shall be:
(a) To conduct Malay educational, religious, cultural, welfare,
social, economic and sports activities in Singapore.
(b)
To conduct research, social and cultural aspects of the Malays and to plan projects to enable Malays to make further progress in these fields.
To organise projects to enhance the progress of the Malays in educational, economic, cultural and social fields, etc., in the context of the needs of a globalised world.
To direct certain projects for the purpose of collecting and receiving donations from members of the public or any person who wishes to donate to the Society.
To raise funds, to receive contributions of all kinds, and to administer and distribute such funds and goods in kind as are entrusted to the Society.
To disseminate information to and to inculcate interest in members of public, in all possible ways, in respect of the activities of the Society and to encourage public participation in all the activities.
To investigate and to consider problems of the Malays and to recommend solutions and give advice if required or necessary, to the authorities concerned.
To provide a headquarters and centre for all Malay cultural activities in Singapore.
To establish close co-operation with other organisations having objects similar to the Society whenever necessary.
(1)
To provide Child Care Services Before and After School Care Services, Elderly Care Services and other Social & Welfare Services.
(2)
For the purpose of carrying out any of the objects set out in clause (1) of this Article, the Society may:
(a)
Acquire or accept leases, purchase, take hold and enjoy any lands, buildings, messuages or tenements of what nature or kind so ever and wheresoever situated or tenements in Singapore or elsewhere;
Invest or deposit money in any bank in Singapore or mortgage any lands, buildings, messuages or tenements of
the Society in Singapore or elsewhere.
Purchase and acquire all manner of goods and chattels whatsoever;
(d)
Grant, sell, convey, assign, reconvey, discharge, surrender, yield up, mortgage, demise, reassign, transfer or otherwise dispose of any lands, buildings, mortgages, funds and securities, goods and chattels and to carry on business for the furtherance of the objects of the Society.
To carry on any business which may seem to the Society capable of being conveniently carried on in connection with the above objects or calculated, directly or indirectly, to enhance the value of or render profitable any of the property or rights of the Society or of the right owners.
(3)
All moneys received or acquired by the Society shall be paid to the fund.
Application of Income
VIII
The income and property of the Society whensoever derived shall be applied towards the promotion of the objects of the Society as set forth in this Constitution and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend or bonus or otherwise howsoever by way of profit to the persons who at any time are or have been members of the Society or to any of them or to any person claiming through any of them, provided that nothing herein contained shall prevent the payment in good faith of remuneration to any officers or servants of the Society.
Jurisdiction of the Society
IX
The status and position of the Society are strictly non-political and it has no connection whatsoever with political parties and shall not permit its Funds to be used for political activities.
Supreme Authority And General Meeting
The supreme authority of the Society is vested in a Biennial General Meeting of the members presided over by the President.
(2)
A Biennial General Meeting shall be held by June.
(3)
At other times, an Extraordinary General Meeting must be called by the President on the request in writing of not less than 25% of the total voting membership or 30 voting members, whichever is lesser, and may be called at anytime by order of the Committee. The notice in writing shall be given to the Secretary setting forth the business that is to be transacted. The Extraordinary General Meeting shall be convened two months from receiving this request to convene the Extraordinary General meeting.
If the Committee does not, within two months after the date of the receipt of the written request proceed to convene an Extraordinary General Meeting, the members who requested for the Extraordinary General Meeting shall convene the Extraordinary General Meeting by giving ten days’ notice to voting members setting forth the business to be transacted and simultaneously posting the agenda on the Society’s notice board.
(5)
At least two weeks’ notice shall be given of an Biennial General Meeting and at least ten day’s notice of an Extraordinary General Meeting. Notice of meeting stating the date, time and place of meeting shall be sent by the Secretary to all voting members. The particulars of the agenda shall be posted on the Society’s notice board four days prior to the meeting.
(6)
Unless otherwise stated in this Constitution, voting by proxy shall not be allowed at all General Meetings.
The following points will be considered at the Biennial General Meeting:
(a)
The previous financial year’s accounts and annual report of the Committee.
Where applicable, the election of the office bearers and Honorary Auditors for the following term.
Any member who wishes to place an item on the agenda of a General Meeting may do so provided he provides notice to the Secretary one week before the meeting is due to be held.
(9)
At least 25% of the total voting membership or 30 voting members, whichever is lesser, present at a General Meeting shall form a
quorum. Proxies shall not be constituted as part of the quorum.
(10)
In the event of there being no quorum at the commencement of a General Meeting, the meeting shall be adjourned for half an hour and should the number then present be insufficient to form a quorum, those present shall be considered a quorum, but they shall have no power to amend any of the existing Constitution.
Executive Committee
XI
(1)
The management and administration of the Society shall be entrusted to an Executive Committee consisting of the following to be elected at the Biennial General Meeting:
–
A President
–
A Deputy President
– A Vice-President – A Secretary General
A Deputy Secretary General
– An Assistant Secretary General
–
A Financial Secretary
–
An Assistant Financial Secretary and
Nine other members who shall be elected at the Biennial General Meeting.
(2)
The Executive Committee shall hold office for two years. All members of the Executive Committee shall be eligible for re-election at the end of each two-year term.
The Executive Committee shall not be precluded from holding any meeting or acting in any matter merely by reason of any vacancy in its membership provided a quorum is present at such meeting.
Duties Of Office Bearers
XII
(1)
The President shall chair all General and Executive Committee meetings.
The Deputy President shall assist the President and deputize for him in his absence.
The Secretary General shall keep all records, except financial, of the Society and shall be responsible for their correctness. He will keep minutes of all General and Committee meetings. He shall maintain an up-to-date Register of Members at all times.
The Financial Secretary shall keep all funds and collect and disburse all monies on behalf of the Society and shall keep an account of all monetary transactions and shall be responsible for their correctness.
(5)
Other office bearers shall assist in the general administration of the Society and perform duties assigned by the Executive Committee from time to time.
Powers of the Executive Committee
XIII
(1)
The Executive Committee may: (a) make rules to regulate the proceedings of the Society and
the Executive Committee;
a)
appoint sub-committee the members of which may or may not be member organisations of the Society and allocate duties to and regulate the exercise of executive power by such committee;
b)
appoint such officers and workers as it thinks fit and regulate the conduct and dismissal of such officers and workers;
c)
make recommendations to the Society for the nomination of Patrons and to admit members to the Society;
d)
organise classes, lectures, courses, symposium and seminars on subjects falling within the objects of the Society;
e)
disseminate information about the Society by selling or distributing books, pamphlets, paper and any other reasonable means.
f)
enter into contracts, establish trusts and generally regulate the transaction of all business connected with the Society;
to determine who shall be entitled to sign on the Society’s behalf bills, notes, receipts, acceptances, endorsements, cheques, release, contracts and documents;
receive subscriptions, donations, interest, dividends and contributions from the Government and from any other persons and bodies;
raise funds by all lawful means;
g)
utilise the corpus and income of the Fund in such manner as the Executive Committee may think fit in carrying out the objects of the Society; and
(1)
generally do all such other acts as may be necessary to carry out the purpose of this constitution.
(2)
The Executive Committee shall normally meet as often as it deems necessary but it shall, in any case, meet at least once in 2 months. At least seven clear days’ notice shall be given to every member of the Executive Committee.
(3)
All questions coming before or arising at any meeting of the Society and of the Executive Committee shall be decided by a majority of members present and voting at the meeting of the Society and of the Executive Committee and in the event of an equality of votes, the person presiding at the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.
Disclosure of Interest XIV (1) If a member of the Society or a member of the Executive
Committee is directly or indirectly interested in any contract, proposed contract, or other matter and is present at a meeting of the Society or of the Executive Committee thereof, at which the contract or other matter is the subject of consideration, such member shall, at the meeting or as soon as practicable after the commencement thereof, disclose the fact, and shall not thereafter be present during the consideration or discussion of and shall not vote on any question with respect to that contract or other matter.
(2)
The provisions of Article XIV (1) shall also apply to any member of a committee appointed in accordance with the relevant clauses of this Constitution when such member is present at a meeting of any committee.
Biennial Report
XV
The Executive Committee shall, as soon as possible after the close of each financial year, submit to the Biennial General meeting a two year report on the activities of the Society during the two years, for its adoption. The financial year shall be from January 1st to December 31st.
Accounts, Internal Auditors and Audit
XVI (1)
The Executive Committee shall keep proper accounts and other records of the Society and shall prepare in respect of each financial year a statement of accounts.
Two Internal Auditors shall be elected in the Biennial General Meeting to audit the accounts of the Society before they are audited by the External Auditor.
(3)
The Accounts of the Society shall be audited by an Auditor appointed by the Society at its Biennial General Meeting.
(4)
As soon as the accounts of the Society have been audited in accordance with the provisions of clause (2) of this Article, the statement of accounts together with any report made by the Auditor shall be submitted by the Executive Committee to the Biennial General Meeting for their adoption.
(5)
A Budget for the following financial year shall be submitted by the Executive Committee to the Biennial General Meeting for their adoption.
Bank Accounts of the Society
XVII All moneys in the Fund shall be deposited in a bank or banks of the
Executive Committee’s choice.
Cessation of Membership & Expulsion
XVIII (1)
The Executive Committee shall have the right to expel any member, if he or she is found to be acting against this Constitution, the rulings of the General Meeting or acting in a manner or carrying out activities prejudicial to the interest or good name of the Society.
The Executive Committee shall have the power to expel any member of the Executive Committee and sub-committees of the Society if he or she is found to be acting in a manner or of a conduct prejudicial to the interest or good name of the Society, after a review of the matter by the Executive Committee.
Prohibitions
XIX
(1)
Gambling in whatever form, whether with stakes or not is not permitted in the association’s premises. The admission of gambling materials or materials for the smoking of opium and the admission of people of bad character into the association’s premises is prohibited.
(2)
The Fund shall not be used to pay fines of members who have been convicted in court.
(3)
The Society shall not attempt to hinder or in any way obstruct trade or interfere with prices of goods or carry out any trade union activities as defined in any written law for the time being in force in Singapore.
(4)
The Society shall not hold lotteries, either open to its affiliates only or to the public, in the name of the Society or its members, without first obtaining permission from the authorities.
Amendments
XX
The Society shall not amend its Constitution without the prior approval in writing of the Registrar of Societies, and, where the Society is a registered charity, the Commissioner of Charities. No alteration or addition/deletion to this Constitution shall be passed except at a general meeting and with the consent of two-thirds (2/3) of the voting members present at the General Meeting.
Dissolution
XXI (1)
The Society shall not be dissolved, except with the consent of not less than 3/5 of its total voting membership for the time of being resident in Singapore expressed, either in person or by proxy, at a General Meeting convened for the purpose.
In the event of the Society being dissolved as provided above, all assets of the Society shall thereupon be held on trust by a Board of Trustees to be nominated by the Society, and after the discharge of all its debts and liabilities, the balance (if any) shall be distributed among approved charitable bodies in Singapore.
(3)
A Certificate of Dissolution shall be given within seven days of the dissolution to the Registrar of Societies