Some Words You Can’t Use in Your New Company Name Unless Approved by Minister
When considering your new company name, please be aware that there are some words that you can’t use in your new company name, unless with the approval from the Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs or from the relevant government agencies before you can use it in your new company’s name.
Except with the consent of the Minister, a company shall not be registered by a name that, in the opinion of the Registrar, is undesirable or is a name, or a kind of name, that the Minister has directed the Registrar not to accept for registration, according to the statutory provision under section 22(1) of the Act.
Some words prohibited by virtue of the direction of the Minister:
- Names suggesting connection with a members of the Royal family or Royal patronage including names containing such words as “Royal”, “King”, “Queen”, “Prince”, “Princess”, “Crown”, “Regent” or “Imperial”;
- Names suggesting connection with a State or Federal government department, statutory body, authority or government agency or any municipality or other local authority, including names containing such words as “Federal”, “State” or “National”;
- Names suggesting connection with any Asean, Commonwealth or foreign government or with the United Nations or with any other international organization or cartel including names containing such words as “ASEAN”, “UNESCO”, “NATO”, “EEC” ,“OPEC”;
- Names suggesting connection with any political party, society, trade union, co-operative society or building society;
- Names including the following words or any words of like import: “Bank”, “Banker”, “Banking”, “Bumiputra”, “Bureau”, “Chamber of Commerce and Industry”, “Chamber of Manufacturers”, “Chartered”, “College”, “Consumer”, “Council”, “Credit”, “Exchange”, “Executor”, “Fair Price”, “Finance”, “Foundation”, “Fund”, “Guarantee”, “Institute”, “Insurance”, “Investment”, “Leasing”, “Made in Malaysia”, “Prime”, “Registry”, “Treasury”, “Trust”, “Unit Trust”, “University”
- Names that are misleading as to the identity, nature, objects or purposes of a company or in any other manner;
- Names that are blasphemous or likely to be offensive to members of the public;
- Names which :
- are translations of a name of a company or foreign company registered under the Act; or
- may resemble or be mistaken for the name of any other company or foreign company registered under the Act
Apart from that, there are also some words which usage are being controlled and limited due to national and public interest:
- Government-linked companies and famous established names that are registered under Trade Mark Registration Act –
- Example: “Astro”, “DIGI”, “Berjaya”, “Chase”, “HICOM”, “Petronas”, “Intrakota”, “Celcom”, “Pernas”, “Perodua”, “Modenas”, “Telekom”, “Kenyir”, “Kulim Hi-Tech”;
- “Cyber” or any words of the same meaning;
- “Putrajaya” or words of the same meaning;
- “MSC/Multimedia Super Corridor”;
- “Middle Man”;
- “Malay Reserve”;
- Words which resemble gambling activities such as “sweepstake”, “lottery”, “fortune teller” or such words connoting the same meaning;
- Words such as “liquor” and the like words; and
- Words from the Government slogan such as “Vision 2020”, “Bersih, Cekap dan Amanah”, “Jatidiri” , “Kuala Lumpur 2001”, “Kuala Lumpur 2006”, “Kuala Lumpur 2008”, “Malaysia Boleh”, “Dulu, Kini dan Selamanya” (“Then, Now and Always”) and others being introduced from time to time
Engaging with a good services provider will assist you in getting updates and information in a shorter time. When you turn to 3E Accounting, you are assured of quick yet thorough processing that results in the filing of company name search application. Please feel free to contact us for more information.
