Law of partnership
合伙法

### **Introduction**
＃＃＃ **介绍**

- The **Partnership Act 1961 (Act 135)** governs the law of partnership in Malaysia.
- **《1961 年合伙法》（第 135 号法）* * 管辖马来西亚的合伙法。

- A partnership is defined as a relationship between persons carrying on business in common with a view to profit (s. 3(1)).
- 合伙企业被定义为以营利为目的开展共同业务的人之间的关系（第 3(1) 条）。

### **Registration of Firm**
### **公司注册**

- Partnerships must be registered with the **Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM)** under the **Registration of Businesses Act 1956** (Peninsular Malaysia) or the respective licensing ordinances in **Sabah and Sarawak**.
- 合伙企业必须根据《1956 年企业注册法》（马来西亚半岛）或《沙巴和砂拉越》各自的许可条例，在 **马来西亚公司委员会 (CCM)** 注册。

- **Case: Gulazam v Noorzaman and Sobath (1957)**:
- **案件： Gulazam诉Noorzaman和Sobath （ 1957 年）* *：

- Even if a partnership is not registered, the rights between partners are still enforceable if the partnership exists based on facts.
- 即使合伙企业未注册，如果合伙企业基于事实存在，合伙人之间的权利仍然有效。

### **Formation of Partnership**
### **建立伙伴关系**

- Partnerships require **at least two partners** and generally have a maximum of 20, except for professional firms (s. 14(3)(a)).
- 合伙企业需要**至少两名合伙人**，通常最多为 20 名，专业公司除外（第 14(3)(a) 条）。

- A **minor** can enter into a partnership but is not responsible for the firm’s debts.
- **未成年人**可以建立合伙企业，但不对公司的债务负责。

### **Elements of Partnership**
### **合作伙伴关系的要素**

- **More than one person** is required.
- **需要超过一个人**。

- There must be an agreement (express or implied) to carry on a **business**, which includes trade, occupation, or profession (s. 2).
- 必须有协议（明示或暗示）才能开展**业务**，其中包括贸易、职业或专业（第 2 条）。

- The business must be carried out **in common** with **a view to profit**, excluding non-profit organizations.
- 开展业务必须**共同**以**营利**为目的，不包括非营利组织。

### **Partnership Property**
### **合伙财产**

- Property brought into or acquired by the partnership is **partnership property** (s. 22).
- 合伙企业带入或获得的财产是**合伙财产**（第 22 条）。

- **Case: Ponnukon v Jebaratnam (1980)**:
- **案件： Ponnukon诉Jebaratnam ( 1980)* *:

- Land purchased with personal funds, not partnership money, remains personal property, not partnership property.
- 用个人资金而不是合伙资金购买的土地仍然是个人财产，而不是合伙财产。

- A property is deemed partnership property if purchased with partnership funds unless the partners intended otherwise (s. 23).
- 如果用合伙资金购买的财产被视为合伙财产，除非合伙人另有意图（第 23 条）。

### **Liability of Partners**
### **合作伙伴的责任**

1. **Contractual Liability** (s. 11):
1. **合同责任**（第 11 条）：

- Partners are jointly liable for the partnership’s debts.
- 合伙人对合伙企业的债务承担连带责任。

- **Third parties** can sue all the partners or the firm as a whole
- **第三方**可以起诉所有合伙人或整个公司.

2. **Tort Liability** (s. 12):
2. **侵权责任**（第 12 条）：

- The firm is liable for torts committed by partners in the ordinary course of business or with authority.
- 公司对合伙人在正常业务过程中或授权范围内实施的侵权行为承担责任。

3. **Misapplication** (s. 13):
3. **误用**（第 13 条）：

- Partners are liable for any money misapplied by another partner in the course of partnership business.
- 合伙人应对合伙业务过程中其他合伙人不当使用的任何资金承担责任。

4. **Criminal Liability**:
4. **刑事责任**：

- Partners are **not jointly liable** for criminal acts.
- 合作伙伴对犯罪行为**不承担连带责任**。

- **Case: Chung Shin Kian & Anor v Public Prosecutor (1980)**:
- **案件：Chung Shin Kian & Anor 诉检察官 ( 1980)* *:

- Only the partner involved in criminal activity was liable, not the absent partner.
- 只有参与犯罪活动的合伙人才承担责任，缺席的合伙人不承担责任。

5. **Retiring Partners**:
5. **退休合伙人**：

- Retiring partners remain liable for debts incurred before their retirement unless they have given proper notice to creditors (s. 19(2)).
- 退休合伙人仍对其退休前产生的债务承担责任，除非他们已向债权人发出适当通知（第 19(2) 条）。

- **Case: Malayan Banking Berhad v Lim Chee Leng (1985)**:
- **案例：马来亚银行有限公司v Lim Chee Leng ( 1985)* *:

- Retiring partners could not escape liability for debts incurred before their retirement.
- 退休合伙人无法逃避退休前所产生债务的责任。