Constitution – Just International

CONSTITUTION

Clause 1: Name of Society

The Society shall be known as the International Movement for a Just World or “Pertubuhan Pergerakan Keadilan Sedunia” or JUST in short. It is hereinafter referred to as “the Society”.

Clause 2: Operational Premises

The mailing address and operational premises of the Society are located at:
JKR 1258, Jalan Telok
Seksyen 5, 46000 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor D.E.
Selangor, MALAYSIA
or any other place or places as may be decided on from time to time by the Executive Committee. The operational premises and mailing address of the Society shall not be changed without prior approval of the Registrar of Societies.

Clause 3: Aims / Objectives

1.To develop public awareness about the iniquities and injustices in the existing global system.
2. To create a better understanding, at the popular level, of how control and domination of the global system by a privileged minority challenges human dignity and social justice in both the ‘First World’ and the ‘Third World’, in both the ‘North’ and the ‘South’.
3.To nurture a deeper appreciation among people everywhere of the urgent need for alternative institutions and arrangements at the global level which are more conducive to the emergence of a just world.
4.To raise global consciousness on the crucial importance of fostering attitudes, values and ideals at both the personal and community level, which will help, attain and sustain a just world.
5.To inculcate within the human family as a whole a profound commitment to a universal spiritual and moral vision of life and living rooted in the oneness of God which will serve to guide humankind in its quest for a just world.
6.All the purposes and objectives as stated above, shall benefit all Malaysians irrespective of race, religion and origin. The benefits shall not be confined to a particular group.

Clause 4: Membership

1. Membership of the Society is open to individuals of any nationality who are 21 years of age and above.

Eligible members who have settled their subscription may apply to become life members
The number of members for the Society is unlimited.
All applications for membership should be sent to the Secretary-General, who is required to submit the applications as soon as possible to the Executive Committee for approval. The Executive Committee can exercise its own discretion in rejecting any application without giving reasons.
An applicant whose application has been approved shall be accepted as a member of the Society upon payment of his/her membership fees, and shall thereafter exercise his/her rights as a member.
In accordance with the Universities and University Colleges Act, no university or university-college student in Malaysia may be accepted to become a member of the Society without the prior written approval from the Vice-Chancellor concerned.

Clause 5: Membership Fees

1.The membership fee payable by members shall be RM100 (Ringgit Malaysia One Hundred).

2.The fee shall be payable to the Treasurer upon being notified that the application for membership has been approved by the Committee.

3.Members are encouraged to contribute to the Society voluntarily and with the approval of the General meeting, special fees or any other contributions may be raised from members for any activity or any specific project undertaken by the Society.

4.The Committee has the right to exempt any member from paying the membership fee if it is discovered that the member concerned is unable to pay the fee, or for any other reason that the Committee deems reasonable.

Clause 6: Notice of Termination

1.Any member who intends to terminate her/his membership shall give two weeks notice in writing to the Secretary-General.

2. Any member who fails to comply with the rules and regulations of the Society or has acted in a manner that brings disrepute upon the Society may have her/his membership withdrawn or suspended for a period of time as the Executive Committee deems fit. Before the Executive Committee dismisses or suspends the member, he/she shall be informed in writing of the grounds for such expulsion or suspension. The member shall be given an opportunity to explain and defend her/himself. The General Assembly has the discretion to postpone or cancel the decision upon appeal by the member concerned.

Clause 7: General Meeting

1.The supreme authority of the Society is vested in a Triennial General Meeting, which is held once every three years. At least one-half of the total voting membership of the Society or twice the total number of Executive Committee members, whichever is the lesser, must be present at the General Meeting for its proceedings to be valid and to establish a quorum for the meeting.

2.If there is no quorum after one hour of the time appointed for the meeting, the meeting shall be postponed to a date (not exceeding 30 days) to be decided by the Executive Committee; and if there is again no quorum after half one hour of the time appointed for the postponed meeting, the members present may proceed with the business of the day but they shall have no authorisation either to amend the Constitution or make decisions which are binding on the membership as a whole.

3.The General Meeting of the Society shall be held once every 3 years after the close of the financial year concerned and not later than 31st March, at the date, time and place determined by the Executive Committee. The General Meeting holds the highest authority in the administrative hierarchy of the Society. The duties of the General Meeting are:

to receive the report of the Executive Committee on the working of the Society for the past three years
to receive the Treasurer’s report and the audited financial statement for the past three years
to set the policies and direction of the Society
to deal with such other matters as may be put before it
to elect fifteen Executive Committee members and two Auditors

4.The Secretary-General shall send a notice of the meeting to all members at least 90 days before the General Meeting. Copies of all required documents shall be made available to members at the operational premises of the Society.

5.An Extraordinary General Meeting may be held:

Whenever the Executive Committee deems it desirable; or
At the joint request in writing of not less than one-fifth of the voting membership, stating the objects and reasons for such meeting. The request shall be sent to the Secretary-General of the Society.

6.An Extraordinary General Meeting requisitioned by the members shall be convened on a date within 30 days of the receipt of such requisition.

7.The Secretary-General shall forward the Notice and agenda for the Extraordinary General Meeting to all members at least 14 days before the date fixed for the meeting.

8.Clause 7 (1) and (2) on quorum and postponement of the General Meeting applies to the Extraordinary General Meeting, with the proviso that if no quorum is present after one hour from the time appointed for the postponed meeting, the meeting may be cancelled at the request of the members. No Extraordinary General Meeting shall be requisitioned for the same purpose before the expiry of a full 6 months from the date of the Extraordinary General Meeting that was cancelled.

9.The Secretary-General shall send to all members a copy of the minutes of each General Meeting and Extraordinary General Meeting soon after their conclusion.

Clause 8: Executive Committee

1.An Executive Committee comprising fifteen members shall be set up. It shall be directly responsible to the General Meeting which will choose all the fifteen members of the Executive Committee, including:

President
Vice-President
Secretary-General
Assistant Secretary-General
Treasurer
Ten (10) Ordinary Members of the Executive Committee

2.All office-bearers of the Society and every officer performing executive functions in the Society shall be Malaysian citizens. Non-Malaysian members are eligible to be elected as office-bearers and perform executive functions in the Society, subject to the approval of the Registrar of Societies.

3.A Sub-Committee made up of five members of the Society shall be elected by the Executive Committee to handle the nomination and election at the General Meeting. The names of all the nominees for the positions stated in Clause 8 (1) shall be proposed and seconded by at least two different members and they shall notify the Sub-Committee sixty days before the date appointed for the General Meeting. A member shall not propose her/himself or second the proposal of her/himself. A member should notify the Sub-Committee of his acceptance or rejection of the nomination at least 30 days before the General Meeting.

3A.Upon receipt of the nominations made by members, the Sub-Committee shall circulate to all members, the ballot papers containing names of candidates for the various positions contested in the Committee.

4. The election will be conducted either by post, or any other mode as determined by the Sub-Committee and all nomination forms shall be returned to the Sub-Committee at least seven (7) days before the General Meeting, or any other date specified by the Sub-Committee. The election result will be announced by the Sub-Committee on the day the General Meeting is held.

4A. All Executive Committee members shall serve for a period of three (3) years and are eligible for re-election at the next General Meeting.

5.The Executive Committee itself will hold its own meetings at least once a month. Notice of meetings shall be sent to the members of the Executive Committee at least 7 days before the meeting. At least 8 members of the Executive Committee must be present at the monthly meetings in order to conduct the meetings and fulfil the quorum.

6.The functions of the Executive Committee are to explain the general policies, which have been agreed upon by the General Meeting and make general plans to carry out those policies. The Executive Committee shall also execute the policies and oversee the daily work of the Society. The Executive Committee can make decisions with regard to the running of the Society in line with the general policies determined by the General Meeting. The Executive Committee shall not take any actions that are contrary to the decisions made by the General Meeting without first consulting the General Meeting and the Executive Committee must always abide by the decisions of the General Meeting. The Executive Committee must submit a report concerning its activities for the last three years to the General Meeting.

7.The President or the Secretary-General, acting alone, or at least 8 members of the Executive Committee can convene a meeting of the Executive Committee at any time.

8.If matters arise that require the approval of the Executive Committee and a meeting of the Executive Committee cannot be held, the Secretary-General can obtain approval from the members of the Executive Committee through a circular letter. The conditions stated below must be fulfilled before the decision of the Executive Committee can be considered valid:

The issue must be clearly set out in the circular and forwarded to all members of the Executive Committee.
At least one-half of the members of the Executive Committee must state their agreement or opposition to the suggestion(s) outlined.
The decision must be made by a majority vote.
Any decision obtained by circular letter must be reported by the Secretary-General to the next meeting of the Executive Committee to be approved and recorded in the minutes of the meeting.

9.Any member of the Executive Committee who fails to attend three consecutive meetings without valid reason will be considered to have relinquished his/her participation in the Executive Committee.

10.If a member of the Executive Committee dies or relinquishes his/her responsibilities, the Executive Committee can elect other members to fill the vacancy until the next General Meeting.

11.The Executive Committee can direct the Secretary-General to manage the Society and elect managers and staff who are considered important for the Society. He/She may suspend or sack any of the managers or staff for being careless, dishonest, or incompetent in their work, refusing to carry out the decisions of the Society, or for other reasons considered detrimental to the interests of the Society.

Clause 9: Duties & Responsibilities of the Office-Bearers

1.The President, for the duration of his/her term, shall chair the General Meeting and all Executive Committee meetings and be responsible for the smooth running of all meetings. He/she has the casting vote and will sign the minutes of concluded meetings.

2.The Vice President shall serve in the position of the President in his/her absence.

3.The Secretary-General shall conduct the administrative work of the Society as stipulated by the Society’s Constitution and he/she will execute the orders of the General Meeting and Executive Committee. He/she is responsible for handling the correspondence and keeping all books, letters and papers except the accounts and financial books. The Secretary-General shall keep the membership register, which contains information such as the name, place and date of birth, identity card number, occupation, name and address of employer and home address of every member. He/she will be present at all meetings and take the minutes. The Secretary-General shall post, within 28 days from the date of the General Meeting, the yearly report of the Society to the Registrar of Societies as required in Section 14 (1) of the Societies Act 1966.4.The Assistant Secretary shall assist the Secretary-General in carrying out his/her duties and serve in that position in his/her absence.5.The Treasurer will be responsible for all the financial matters of the Society. He/she shall do the accounts and keep the records for all financial matters and is responsible for their accuracy.6.The Ordinary Members of the Executive Committee shall assist the Executive Committee in performing the tasks that are assigned to them.

Clause 10: Finance

1.Subject to the following provisions in this Constitution, the funds of the Society may be expended for any purpose that serves the objectives of the Society, including administrative expenses, payment of salaries, allowances and legitimate claims of its office-bearers and paid staff. However, the money shall on no account be used to settle the fine of any member found guilty in a court of law.

2.The Treasurer is allowed to hold a petty cash advance not exceeding RM500 (Ringgit Malaysia five hundred) at any one time. All money in excess of this sum shall be deposited in a bank approved by the Executive Committee or utilised for investment purposes by a Special Committee appointed by the Executive Committee. The bank account shall be in the name of the Society.

3.All cheques or withdrawal notices on the Society’s account shall be signed jointly by any two (2) persons from among the President, Secretary-General and the Treasurer. In the absence of the President, Secretary-General and the Treasurer, the Executive Committee shall authorise anyone from among them to sign cheques or withdrawals for the Society.4.Expenditure of less than RM10,000 (Ringgit Malaysia Ten Thousand) at any one time shall be approved jointly by the President, Secretary-General and the Treasurer. Expenditure of more than RM10,000 (Ringgit Malaysia Ten Thousand) at any one time cannot be incurred without the prior sanction of the Executive Committee. Expenditure of more than RM500,000 (Ringgit Malaysia Five Hundred Thousand) at any one time shall not be incurred without the prior approval of the General Meeting.5.As soon as possible after the end of each financial year, a statement of receipts and payments and a balance sheet for the year shall be prepared by the Treasurer and audited by the Auditors appointed under Clause 11 of the Constitution. The audited accounts shall be presented for approval of the Executive Committee and copies shall be made available for the perusal of members.6.The date of the commencement of the financial year of the Society shall be from the 1st of January and shall end on the 31st of December annually.7.A prior written approval from the Minister of Finance shall be obtained to enable the society to undertake works of charity outside the country in accordance with the requirement of subsection 44(7a)(b) of the Income Tax Act 1967.8.The society must spend in the subsequent year at least 50% (or any percentage agreed to by the Director General of the Inland Revenue Board) of the incomes and donations received on activities aimed at achieving its founding objectives.9.Members of the board of trustees, staff, members of the society, its founder and their family members, shall not enjoy the benefits from the society. Those with power and position shall not use their power and position for their own interest.10.The society may engage in commercial activities on condition that it utilises only 25% of its accumulated fund on the first day of the year of assessment. The income derived from its commercial activities shall be re-deposited in the fund to be used for purposes consistent with the objective of the society or for works of charity approved by the Director General of the Inland Revenue Board and the Registrar of Societies Malaysia.

Clause 11: Auditors

1.The Triennial General Meeting as Honorary Auditors shall appoint two persons, who shall not be office-bearers of the Society. They shall hold office for three years and may be re-appointed.

2.The Auditors shall be required to audit the accounts of the Society for the year, and to prepare a report for the Executive Committee. They may also be required by the President to audit the accounts of the Society for any period within their tenure of office at any date, and to make a report to the Executive Committee.

3.The financial statement of the society shall be audited by a certified auditor and a copy of the said statement shall be submitted to the Director General of the Inland Revenue Board at his headquarters and also to the Department of the Registrar of Societies.

Clause 12: Trustees

1.Three (3) Trustees who must be above 21 years of age shall be appointed at the Triennial General Meeting and they shall hold office during the pleasure of the Society. They shall have vested in them all immovable property whatsoever belonging to the Society Trust Deed.

2.The Trustees shall not sell, withdraw or transfer any of the property of the Society without the consent and authority of the General Meeting.

3.The General Meeting may relieve a member of her/his position as Trustee either for reason of poor health in the nature of illness or unsoundness of mind, or for reason of prolonged absence from the country, or any other factors which may hinder her/him from discharging her/his responsibilities satisfactorily. In the event of death, resignation or removal of a Trustee, a new Trustee who will be duly appointed by the General Meeting will fill the vacancy.4.At least 50% of the membership of the Board of Trustees shall comprise persons who have no connections to the society or its founder.

Clause 13: Interpreting the Constitution

1.Between Triennial General Meetings, the Executive Committee can provide interpretations of the Constitution, besides also determining any point on which the rules are silent.

2.The decision of the Executive Committee on matters relating to its members is final, as long as it does not contradict the policies approved by the General Meeting, or if not nullified subsequently at the next General Meeting.

Clause 14: Advisor/Patron

The Executive Committee may, if necessary, appoint members to an Advisory Board for the Society on the condition that the appointee accepts the offer in writing. The conditions of appointment include fitness for such position and acceptance of the appointment in writing.

Clause 15: Prohibitions

1.None of the following games shall be played in the premises of the Society : Roulette, Lotto, Fan Tan, Poh Peh Bin, Belangkai, Pai Kau, Tau Ngau, Tien Kow, Chap Ji Kee, Sam Cheong, Twenty One, Thirty One, Ten and a half, all games of dice, banker’s games, all video games and all games of mere chance. 2.The society shall not engage in any political activities or trade union movement activities and shall not allow its finances, members/staff and premises/properties to be used for such purposes. 3.The Society shall not hold any lottery, whether restricted to its members or not, in the name of the Society or its office-bearers, Committee or members.4.Benefits such as outlined in Section 2 of the Societies Act 1966, shall not be given by the Society to any of its members.

Clause 16: Amendments of the Constitution

1.This Constitution may not be amended except by resolution of the General Meeting. Such amendments shall take effect from the date of their approval by the Registrar of Societies. Any amendment to the rules shall be forwarded to the Registrar of Societies within 28 days of being passed by the General Meeting.
2.Before any amendment or addition to the constituent laws of the society becomes effective, it shall also obtain prior approval from the Director General of the Inland Revenue Board.

Clause 17: Dissolution

1.This Society may be dissolved by a resolution of not less than three-fifths of the total number of members at the General Meeting convened specially for that purpose.
2.If the society is dissolved, all debts and liabilities shall be settled and the remaining assets and monies, if any, shall be donated to the government or to some other society approved by the Director General of the Inland Revenue Board and the Registrar of Societies Malaysia.
3.The Notice of Dissolution shall be forwarded to the Registrar of Societies within 14 days of its dissolution.
4.The Director General of the Inland Revenue Board shall be notified of the dissolution of the society.( Incorporating all amendments as at 10 October 2005 )