Diakonia 2025-1 Christian Brethren Property

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 safeguard 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 Federal Territory of 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 requirements of the  Companies Act, 2016 and to discuss or raise  matters related to their properties.  

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 is 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.