Why Wildlife Conservation and Science (Malaysia) Bhd?

If you deal with the WCS Malaysia Program, you will from time to time see references to "Wildlife Conservation and Science (Malaysia) Bhd". Why?

The Wildlife Conservation Society is based in New York, and operates legally under the terms of a charter from New York State, originally granted to the New York Zoological Society (as WCS was formerly known) in 1894. As a not-for-profit organization, it is not registered as a corporation.

There is no easy way for foreign NGOs to operate in Malaysia. Foreign companies can register branch offices with the Registrar of Companies, but the Registrar of Societies has no corresponding arrangement.

Wildlife Conservation and Science (Malaysia) Bhd (WC&S) is the solution developed by lawyers in New York and Malaysia. It is registered in Malaysia as a "company limited by guarantee" under Section 14 (2) b of the Companies Act 1965. Such a company does not have share capital and thus does not pay dividends to shareholders. It is a form used by many charities and trusts which operate on a not-for-profit basis, where any surplus of revenue over expenditure is ploughed back into charitable activities.

With effect from 1 Feb 2010, WC&S acts as the agent for the Wildlife Conservation Society, and is authorized to pay and receive money on behalf of WCS and the WCS Malaysia Program.