How to Appoint the JMB Committee
(JMC) in Malaysia

General guidance for 2026 — not legal advice. The Strata Management Act 2013 and its 2015 Regulations govern this; confirm specifics with your Commissioner of Buildings (COB) or a strata lawyer. Need strata repair/maintenance help? Ask us →

What is the JMC and why it matters

The JMC (Joint Management Committee) is the elected body that runs the JMB (Joint Management Body) on a day-to-day basis. Think of the JMB as the legal entity (the company) and the JMC as its board of directors. The JMC makes operational decisions, manages the maintenance and sinking fund accounts, enforces by-laws, appoints managing agents and contractors, and convenes meetings of the JMB.

The quality of a building’s management depends almost entirely on the quality and commitment of its JMC. A well-elected, engaged committee is the single greatest factor in a well-maintained building with healthy finances. For the full context, see the JMB complete guide →. For the full list of duties the JMC must fulfil, see JMB responsibilities & duties →.

Who is eligible to serve on the JMC

Under the Strata Management Act 2013 framework, JMC members are typically drawn from parcel owners (registered proprietors of parcels in the development). Key eligibility points:

• A candidate must generally be a registered owner of a parcel in the development, or an eligible proxy or authorised representative of a parcel owner.
• Tenants and occupiers who do not own a parcel are not eligible to stand for election to the JMC.
• A company or body corporate that owns a parcel may nominate an authorised representative to serve on the JMC in its place.
• Whether an owner who is in arrears of Charges or sinking-fund contributions is eligible to serve is a matter to confirm with your COB or strata lawyer — the principle is generally that paying owners govern the body.
• The maximum number of JMC members is not stated in the spec; confirm the limit with your COB or the relevant Regulations.

The nomination process

Good elections begin with a well-run nomination process. The standard steps are:

1. The AGM notice (sent to all parcel owners within the prescribed notice period) should invite nominations for the committee.
2. Candidates may be nominated by any eligible owner (or may self-nominate). Nominations are typically submitted in writing before the meeting or made from the floor at the AGM.
3. Each nominee should provide their full name, parcel number, and confirmation that they are a registered owner (or eligible representative) and are willing to serve.
4. The nomination list is made available to all attending owners before voting begins.
5. If the number of nominations equals or is fewer than the available committee places, those nominees are elected without a formal ballot. If there are more nominees than places, a ballot is held.

Encourage owners to nominate themselves or recommend credible, committed candidates before the meeting — a committee assembled purely from volunteers who step forward on the day often lacks the right mix of skills (finance, engineering, legal).

Voting: share units and methods

Voting for JMC members at the AGM is weighted by share units — each parcel carries an allocated number of share units, and an owner’s voting weight reflects those units. This means an owner of a penthouse with more share units carries more voting weight than an owner of a small studio, even though each is one person. Key points:

• Show of hands may be used for a preliminary vote, but any owner (or proxy) may call for a poll, which is then conducted by share units and is more precise.
• Only registered parcel owners who are not in arrears (or their eligible proxies) are generally entitled to vote. Tenants do not vote. For detailed rules on voting rights, see defaulters and AGM voting rights →.
• Each parcel has one vote (weighted by share units) regardless of how many family members live in it.
• Joint owners of a parcel should agree how their single vote is to be cast.

Proxies and company representatives

An owner who cannot attend the AGM may appoint a proxy to attend and vote on their behalf. Key rules:

• The proxy must be appointed in writing using a form that complies with the Strata Management (Maintenance and Management) Regulations 2015.
• The proxy form should be lodged with management before the meeting (confirm the deadline with your COB or the AGM notice).
• A proxy may vote on all resolutions, including the election of committee members, on behalf of the appointing owner (subject to the owner’s instructions, if any).
• A company or body corporate that owns a parcel must appoint an authorised representative (by resolution of the company and a letter of authority) rather than a proxy form.
• The proxyholder must themselves be eligible to be a proxy under the Regulations — confirm requirements with your COB.

Electing the office bearers

Once the JMC members are elected at the AGM, the JMC convenes immediately (usually at the close of the AGM, or within a very short period) to elect office bearers from among its own members. The three statutory office-bearer positions are:

• Chairman — chairs all meetings of the JMC and the JMB’s general meetings; the public face of the committee; casts the deciding vote in the event of a tie.
• Secretary — responsible for all correspondence, meeting notices, minutes, and record-keeping of the JMB.
• Treasurer — responsible for the financial management of the JMB: maintenance account, sinking fund, Charges collection, accounts preparation, and the annual audit process.

Office bearers are elected by the JMC members from among themselves, typically by simple majority. It is good practice to document this election in the minutes of the first JMC meeting. For a full guide to each role, see JMB office bearers: Chairman, Secretary & Treasurer →.

Term of office and re-election

JMC members serve from the date they are elected at the AGM until the next AGM, when a new committee is elected. Key points about the term:

• There is no statutory bar on a JMC member serving multiple consecutive terms — a member may be re-elected at each AGM.
• However, long-serving committees without fresh blood can lead to complacency or entrenchment. Owners are encouraged to contest elections actively.
• If an AGM is not convened within the prescribed period (confirm the interval with your COB), the existing committee continues to act until a new committee is elected, but this is a compliance failure that should be escalated to the COB.

Filling casual vacancies

A casual vacancy arises when a JMC member resigns, passes away, ceases to be a parcel owner, or is removed during their term. How to fill a casual vacancy:

• The remaining JMC members may co-opt an eligible person to fill the casual vacancy for the remainder of the term, subject to the Regulations.
• Alternatively, if the vacancy is significant (particularly if it affects the quorum), an EGM may be called to elect a replacement. See how to call an EGM →.
• A co-opted member serves until the next AGM, at which a regular election takes place.
• Any vacancy should be documented in the committee minutes and, where required by the Regulations, notified to the COB.

Conflicts of interest

JMC members must manage their positions in good faith and avoid conflicts of interest. Best practice and good governance require:

• A committee member who has a personal or financial interest in a matter before the JMC (for example, a contractor tendering for a building contract is related to a committee member) should declare the conflict and absent themselves from the discussion and vote on that matter.
• Declarations of interest should be recorded in the committee minutes.
• Committee members should not use their position to benefit themselves personally at the expense of the JMB or the other owners.
• Serious or persistent conflicts of interest are grounds for owners to requisition an EGM to remove the affected member.

Removing a committee member

A JMC member may be removed before their term ends by:

1. Ordinary resolution at a general meeting — owners holding the required share can requisition an EGM at which a resolution to remove the member is passed. This is the formal and transparent route. See how to change or remove the JMB committee →.
2. COB intervention — if the committee member is acting illegally, misappropriating funds, or the committee is non-functioning, owners may escalate to the COB, which has powers to intervene.

A committee member who is removed by resolution does not stand for re-election at the same meeting; they may stand at a future AGM.

JMC roles comparison: what each office bearer does

Best-practice governance tips for JMC members

• Attend every committee meeting. A quorum is required for decisions — a committee member who repeatedly misses meetings undermines governance.
• Read the financials. Every JMC member is accountable for the JMB’s finances, not just the Treasurer. Review the monthly accounts before each meeting.
• Minute every decision. The Secretary should circulate draft minutes promptly and the committee should confirm them at the next meeting. Minutes are the JMB’s legal record.
• Declare interests promptly. An undeclared conflict of interest discovered later is far more damaging than one that was declared and managed at the time.
• Know your limits. The JMC manages on behalf of all owners; major decisions (e.g. passing a new additional by-law, appointing a new managing agent) should go to the owners at a general meeting.
• Engage with owners proactively. Post updates on noticeboard and building apps, circulate the audited accounts in advance of the AGM, and invite questions — transparency builds trust and reduces complaints.
• Consider a managing agent. If the committee lacks the time or expertise to manage day-to-day operations, a managing agent can handle the operational load while the JMC retains strategic oversight. See managing agent vs self-managed →.