Martial Arts Societies Act 1976 · Updated to 1 Jan 2006 · Part III · Registration
23. Restrictions on registration and licensing of societies, business, etc.
Feedback & supportAfter the coming into force of this Act, there shall not be registered or licensed—
any society under the Societies Act 1966 which has as one of its objects or activities the instruction or study of any form of martial arts;
any business, partnership, proprietorship or firm under the *Registration of Businesses Act 1956 [Act 197], the
Trades Licensing Ordinance of Sabah [Cap. 144], or the
Businesses, Professions and Trade Licensing Ordinance of Sarawak [Cap. 33] one of whose purpose is the instruction or study of any form of martial arts; or
any company under the Companies Act 1965 [Act 125]
which has as one of its objects the instruction or study of any form of martial arts, without the approval in writing of the Registrar and such applicant shall submit together with his application such approval.
The registration or licensing of such society, business, partnership, proprietorship, firm or company without such approval shall be deemed to be void.
Where on the date of coming into operation of this Act—
any business, partnership, proprietorship or firm is registered or licensed, as the case may be, under the
Registration of Businesses Act 1956, the Trades Licensing
Ordinance of Sabah or the Businesses, Professions and
Trade Licensing Ordinance of Sarawak and carries on as one of its business activities the instruction of any form of martial arts; or
any company is registered under the Companies Act 1965
and has as one of its objects in the memorandum the instruction of any form of martial arts, such business, partnership, proprietorship or firm or company shall, within six months thereof, apply for the written permission of the
Registrar to carry on as one of its business activities or its objects, the instruction in any form of martial arts and if written permission is granted, shall be deemed to have been registered under subsection (1) with the approval of the Registrar.
*NOTE—Act 197 is applicable to Peninsular Malaysia only.
Martial Arts Societies 19
No person or company shall, unless the business, partnership, proprietorship or firm or company is registered in accordance with subsection (1) or if in existence on the date of coming into operation of this Act, unless written permission is obtained from the Registrar within the period specified in subsection (3), carry on as one of his business activities or as one of its objects the instruction of any form of martial arts.
any form of martial arts
“martial arts” or “any form of martial arts” means any of the martial arts specified in the First Schedule or any combination thereof and any other form of physical training, the study or practice of which will enable the doer to acquire the skills to physically defend himself against armed or unarmed attack: Provided that notwithstanding the definition of “martial arts” the Minister may by order published in the Gazette amend the First Schedule;
Any person who contravenes subsection (4) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to a fine not exceeding five thousand ringgit or to imprisonment not exceeding two years or to both.