Quick answer
A Malaysian company changes its name by special resolution of shareholders and an application to SSM under Section 28 of the Companies Act 2016; the new name takes effect when SSM registers it. The company's registration number does not change, so contracts and licences stay with the same legal entity. All prescribed SSM fees are included in our fee.
Last reviewed： · Reviewed by：ONEKEY BIZ compliance team
01
Overview
Companies rename for rebranding, a change of business focus, a merger, or because the original name no longer fits. Under Section 28 of the Companies Act 2016 the change is approved by special resolution of shareholders — at least 75% of votes — and SSM must approve and register the new name.
The new name must be available and acceptable to SSM: not identical to an existing company, not misleading, and not containing restricted words (such as 'bank', 'insurance' or 'Islamic') without the relevant approval. That is why a name search comes first.
A change of name does not create a new company. Your registration number, assets, contracts, employees and licences all belong to the same entity. What changes is everything that prints the name — bank accounts, invoices and e-invoice profile, licences, signboards (which may need fresh DBP wording approval), letterheads and seals — so we give you a full update list.
Who needs this
- Companies rebranding
- Companies changing their core business
- Groups aligning subsidiary names after a merger or acquisition
- Owners who bought an existing company and want their own name
02
What Section 28 actually requires
Changing a company's name is a members' decision, not a directors' one. Section 28 of the Companies Act 2016 requires a special resolution — at least 75% of the voting rights — and the company must notify SSM of the change within 30 days of the date that resolution was passed. Miss the 30 days and the resolution has to be passed again.
The sequence matters because two separate clocks run. The new name is first searched and reserved with SSM for RM50, and that reservation holds for 30 days. The Section 28 application, with the special resolution, must be lodged inside that reservation window and carries a prescribed fee of RM100. Once SSM is satisfied, the notice of change of name is typically issued within one to three working days.
The part companies forget is what happens afterwards. For at least 12 months from the date of change, the former name must appear beneath the new name on business letters, notices and other official publications — including electronic ones. That means letterheads, invoices, the website footer and email signatures all need updating, and the old name kept visible rather than erased.
- STEP 1Name searchAvailability checked against SSM rules
- RM50 · 30 DAYSName reservedReservation clock starts
- STEP 2Special resolution≥75% of voting rights
- WITHIN 30 DAYSLodge Section 28RM100 prescribed fee
- 1–3 DAYSNotice issuedNew name takes effect
Two 30-day windows run in parallel: the name reservation, and the deadline to notify SSM after the resolution is passed. The Section 28 lodgement has to land inside both.
03
What changes, and what does not
A change of name does not create a new company. The registration number stays the same, the company keeps its legal identity, and existing contracts, leases and loans remain binding — they do not need to be re-signed, though counterparties should be notified in writing.
What does need work is everything issued in the old name. Bank accounts and signatory mandates, the LHDN tax file, EPF and SOCSO employer registrations, business premise and sector licences, trademarks, tenancy agreements and any Customs or MITI registrations all reference the name and have to be updated with their own authorities, each on its own form and timetable.
Licences are the item to plan around. A CIDB registration, a majlis business premise licence or a WRT licence issued in the old name has to be amended, and until it is, the licence and the SSM record disagree — which is exactly the mismatch an inspection or a tender prequalification will pick up. We map the affected registrations before the resolution is passed, so the downstream updates start the day the notice is issued.
04
Documents you need to prepare
Proposed name
- 1–3 new name options in order of preference
- Meaning of any non-English or coined words, if asked by SSM
Company
- Special resolution of shareholders (we draft it)
- Constitution, if the name appears in it
- Words such as 'bank', 'finance', 'insurance', 'Islamic' or 'Malaysia' may need approval from another authority.
- Do not print new signboards or invoices until SSM has registered the new name.
05
How to get it done with ONEKEY BIZ
- 1Name search Day 1–2
We check availability and restricted words for your options.
- 2Special resolution Day 2–4
We draft the resolution; shareholders sign.
- 3SSM application Day 4–6
We apply to SSM for the change of name.
- 4Registration Week 1–2
SSM approves and registers the new name.
- 5Update list Done
You receive the documents and a list of everything to rename.
You do
- Choose your preferred names
- Shareholders sign the special resolution
We do
- Run the name search
- Draft the special resolution
- Apply to SSM and follow up
- Give you a full rename checklist
06
What you receive
Official record of the new company name, same registration number.
Shareholders' approval of the new name.
SSM company information under the new name.
Bank, LHDN, e-invoice, licences, DBP signboard, seal and stationery.
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
Does the registration number change?
No. The company keeps the same registration number and remains the same legal entity.
Do we need to reapply for our licences?
Usually no, but most agencies must be notified to update the name; signboards may need a new DBP approval.
What if SSM rejects the name?
We move to your next option. Running a proper name search first avoids most rejections.