# Societies Act: No reasons needed for deregistration after non-compliance

> Federal Court clarifies ROS can cancel society registration without reasons if notice isn't followed.
- Title: Societies Act: No reasons needed for deregistration after…
- Summary: Federal Court clarifies ROS can cancel society registration without reasons if notice isn't followed. Malaysian Registrar of Societies can deregister…
- Keywords: societies act, registrar of societies, federal court, political society, deregistration, statutory notice, malaysia, news, world, Societies, Act, reasons
- Source: Malay Mail — https://malaymail.com/news/what-you-think/2026/10/21/when-deregistration-of-society-is-merely-consequential-to-failure-to-comply-with-statutory-notice-no-reasons-are-required-under-the-law-and-needed-to-be-given-hafiz-hassan/239994
- Published: 2026-10-21T14:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: societies act, registrar of societies, federal court, political society, deregistration, statutory notice, malaysia, news, world
## Societies Act Section 16
Section 16 of the Societies Act requires societies to resolve disputes within one month or face deregistration.

> Section 16(1) of the Act states the Registrar may serve notice requiring societies to produce evidence of dispute resolution within one month.
## Deregistration trigger
Failure to comply with statutory notice within one month leads to ROS canceling society registration under Section 13.

> Section 13(1)(c)(ix) allows ROS to cancel registration if society fails to comply with Section 16 notice.
## Federal Court ruling
Federal Court confirmed ROS uses subjective evaluation to determine dispute existence without needing additional reasons.

> The ROS forms an opinion based on documents presented without requiring detective work.
## Subjective test
ROS must be satisfied on a subjective basis that a dispute exists before taking action under Section 16.

> The word 'opinion' in Section 16(1) entails a subjective evaluation by the ROS.
## No additional reasons
Law requires no reasons to be given once ROS determines non-compliance with statutory notice.

> No reasons are required under the law and needed to be given.
## Case example
In Pendaftar Pertubuhan v Datuk Justin Jinggut [2013], Federal Court clarified ROS authority over political societies.

> The Federal Court said the ROS merely gives political parties an ultimatum to settle disputes or face cancellation.
## ROS role
ROS acts as a non-interfering body that can cancel registration without further investigation.

> The ROS role is one of non-interference in dispute situations involving political societies.
## Consequence of non-compliance
Failure to comply triggers immediate deregistration without needing additional explanations.

> If no evidence is forthcoming and ROS is satisfied of non-compliance, they may cancel registration.
## Legal basis
Section 13(1)(c)(ix) permits ROS to cancel registration for non-compliance with Section 16 notices.

> Section 13(1)(c)(ix) provides that ROS may cancel registration if society fails to comply with Section 16 notice.
## Key takeaway
Deregistration is merely consequential to failure to comply with statutory notice; no reasons required.

> When deregistration of society is merely consequential to failure to comply with statutory notice, no reasons are required under the law, and needed to be given.
## Key takeaway

Malaysian Registrar of Societies can deregister political societies without requiring reasons if they fail to comply with statutory notices under Societies Act.