History
Christian Brethren of Malaysia Property Trust Limited was incorporated under the Companies Ordinance, 1940 to 1946 as a Company limited by Guarantee on 3rd July, 1962. The name was changed to Christian Brethren of Malaysia Property Trust Berhad (Trust) on 15th April, 1966. It was also resolved at a meeting of Directors of the Trust held at Elim, Ipoh on 29th September, 1962 that all the directors and each new Director shall subscribe to a Statement of Doctrines and Practices. Any Director of the Trust who withdraws from assembly fellowship for reasons of disagreement with the Doctrines and Practices held by the assemblies or any Director who has been excluded from assembly fellowship under discipline instituted by the assembly concerned shall be called upon immediately to retire/resign as a Director.
Objectives
The primary objective of the formation of the Trust was:-
1. To take over as trustees all those properties previously held by Stewards Company Limited of the United Kingdom and to enable other properties to be vested in the Trust.
2. To help the local assembly to safe-guard their property
3. To deal with officialdom on matters related to land–ownership
4. To ensure that the properties vested in the Trust be used for the furtherance of the Gospel and the teaching of the Word of God.
Title Deeds
There are at present 113 titles lodged with the Trust. Some properties are in the process of transfer to the Trust while a few others have just been purchased. There are also a few assemblies whose properties are in the name of the Trust but have not submitted the property titles to the Trust for safe keeping. All assemblies are responsible for the maintenance, management and upkeep of their individual properties which are vested in the Trust. This includes ensuring adequate insurance is taken to cover the property for fire and flood, paying the yearly quit rents and assessments. The Directors of the Trust are not responsible for any financial obligations or undertakings of any property vested in the Trust.
Management
The affairs of the Trust are managed by a Board of Directors. The representation on the Board is as follows:-
Two directors representing the assemblies in the northern region.
Two directors representing the assemblies in the central region.
Four directors representing the assemblies in the Klang Valley.
Two directors representing the assemblies in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
Present Directors
| Name | State | Name | State |
| Yapp Hock Hoe | Selangor | Chang Pat Swee | Perak |
| Yap Wai Choong | Selangor | Mow Kam Yeen | Selangor |
| Ho Chee Meng | Perak | Jacob Chia Eah Kok | Penang |
| Lee Kim Seong | Penang | Michael Goh Thong Poh | Kuala Lumpur |
| Chan Chee Choong | Selangor | Cheah Wing Choong | Kuala Lumpur |
Membership
Assemblies who have properties vested in the Trust can be members of the Trust. Assemblies with a membership of less than 50 can nominate one person to be a member. Those with over 50 members can nominate two. All assemblies who have properties in the Trust contribute an annual sum to the Trust to defray expenses. Assemblies with more than 50 in their congregation contribute RM500 per annum. Assemblies with less than 50 in their congregation contribute RM150 per annum. The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Trust is usually held in the month of June. The attendance of members at the AGM is to comply with the requirement of the Companies Act, 2016 and to discuss or raise matters related to their properties.
Administration
The administrative affairs of the Trust is presently handled by the Company Secretary. The following are some of the administrative duties:-
| 1. | Preparation and finalising of annual accounts i.e. writing up the cash book, postings to ledger, drawing up the trial balance, income and expenditure account and balance sheet. The financial year end of the Trust is 31st December. |
| 2. | Forwarding of accounting records and accounts to be audited by E. S Lim & Co annually |
| 3. | Arranging for accounts to be signed by the directors and attested before sending to auditors for signature. |
| 4. | Sending notice of Annual General Meeting and accounts to members (over 100 members) of the Trust. |
| 5. | Attendance at meetings and preparation of Minutes of Annual General Meetings and Minutes of Directors’ Meetings. |
| 6. | Preparation of Annual Return for filing with Companies Commission of Malaysia. Preparation of Forms for appointment of directors and changes in directorships. Filing of audited financial statements with Companies Commission of Malaysia. |
| 7. | Preparation and filing of yearly tax returns with Inland Revenue Board. |
| 8. | Preparation of resolutions for purchase/sale of properties by assemblies and liasing with solicitors, signing S&P Agreements as Secretary and arranging for another director to sign. Preparation of resolutions for renovation of properties, appointment of directors, etc. |
| 9. | Sending notices to member assemblies for annual contributions from members, banking of cheques and issue of receipts. |
| 10. | Attending to requests from assemblies for authorisation letters to be given for various purposes e.g. to sign plans, applications for utilities. Signing of renovation plans as Secretary. |
| 11. | Assisting assemblies to deal with application for extension of lease. |
| 12. | Attending to application for public utilities. |
| 13. | Updating Register of Titles. The titles are kept in the safe in the Secretary’s office. Updating of Members’ Register. |
| 14. | Acting as named Secretary for the Trust. The Secretary must be a member of MIA, MAICSA, a lawyer or someone licenced by the Registrar of Companies. |
| 15. | Banking of refund cheques from various authorities received on behalf assemblies e.g. for refund of utilities deposit and issuing cheques to reimburse the assemblies. |
| 16. | Collection of new titles to replace old title from land office. The Secretary does this only for titles to be collected from Kuala Lumpur and Shah Alam land offices only. |
| 17. | Attending to requests from assemblies for authorization letters for various matters. |
Conclusion
The Trust operates purely as a registering body and for all practical purposes the control and care over each property registered in the Trust’s name remains solely in the hands of each respective Oversight wherein the directors are merely the legal custodians of the land titles. In addition, the directors are entrusted with the sacred duty of drawing the attention of any Oversight in the event their property are being used for purposes that may fall outside the scope of the Doctrines and Practices subscribed to by all participating assemblies. The Trust has no capital and therefore is not in any position to make grants or loans to assemblies to purchase or develop properties. Its expenses are met by contributions from all participating assemblies.
In today’s complex world of legalities, we firmly believe it is essential to have this central registry, to protect the assemblies’ property rights now and in the future by having them registered in a company that has a continuous legal existence. It also provides a base for uniting the assemblies in their outreach of the gospel.
Assemblies whose properties are registered in the names of individual trustees and are interested in vesting their properties in the Trust as trustees or who need further information are welcomed to contact the Company Secretary.