SSM Malaysia’s 2026 statutory document recovery campaign and clinics.
The Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) launched the Statutory Document Lodgement Recovery Campaign and Compliance Clinics on 16 April 2026, running until 30 September 2026. Announced on 13 April 2026, the initiative is one of four SSM compliance measures introduced this year, aimed at strengthening corporate compliance while reducing the burden on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
This article covers how the campaign works, the penalty reductions available and what the Compliance Clinics offer to directors and company secretaries working through outstanding obligations.
Campaign objectives
A key provision of this Pelan Pemulihan (Recovery Plan) is the opportunity for companies to bring their financial statements, beneficial ownership information and annual returns into compliance with the Companies Act 2016 within a defined grace period.
The campaign assists companies with outstanding filings under the Companies Act 2016. Directors are required to sign a formal Letter of Undertaking (Borang Aku Janji) and submit it to SSM. Once accepted, participating companies receive the following recovery periods to lodge outstanding documents:
- Three months to lodge outstanding annual returns and beneficial ownership information
- Six months to lodge outstanding financial statements
- Three months to apply for strike-off for dormant or defunct companies
These grace periods apply to outstanding documents only and do not cover current filings. Annual returns for companies with anniversaries on or after 25 March 2026, and financial statements with a financial year-end of 30 October 2025 onwards, fall outside the scope of the campaign.
Financial incentives: compound reductions of up to 98.75%
The most significant feature of the campaign is the reduction in compounds, ranging from 90% to 98.75% depending on the offence. Key examples are set out below.
| Offence | Original compound | Reduced compound |
|---|---|---|
| Section 68 – Annual return | RM 5,000 | RM 500 |
| Section 248 – Preparation of financial statements | RM 40,000 | RM 500 |
| Section 245 – Accounting records | RM 40,000 | RM 2,000 |
| Section 258 – Circulation of financial statements | RM 5,000 | RM 500 |
Participating companies also receive a six-month exemption from prosecution and compounding for covered offences, starting from the date the undertaking is signed.
Klinik Pematuhan (Compliance Clinics)
Recognising that non-compliance often stems from limited awareness or uncertainty about requirements, SSM has introduced the Klinik Pematuhan (Compliance Clinics) alongside the campaign. These face-to-face advisory sessions are aimed at company directors, company secretaries and compliance officers.
Sessions are being held across Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak during April and May 2026. Participants can check their company’s compliance status, identify the causes of any outstanding issues and receive direct guidance from SSM officers on legal requirements and the strike-off process. For those unable to attend in person, guidance is available at any SSM office nationwide or via the SSM hotline (03-7721 4000).
Acting before the 30 September 2026 deadline
The campaign closes on 30 September 2026. For companies with outstanding filings, the practical starting point is a review of what is outstanding (annual returns, financial statements, beneficial ownership records or a combination) to confirm which documents fall within the recovery scope and which grace period applies.
A company secretary is best placed to carry out that review, prepare the undertaking and coordinate lodgements within the relevant recovery periods. Companies considering strike-off for dormant entities have a three-month window from the date the undertaking is signed, so early engagement is particularly important for that group.
Acclime Malaysia provides company secretarial and compliance support to help companies identify outstanding obligations and manage the lodgement process. To discuss your situation, contact our team for an initial assessment.
