INTRODUCTION
Secretaries form a big support group for managers and administrators, both in the public and private sectors. They deal with typing and filing work, handle letters/mails and make appointments and arrangements for the people they are working for. However, one needs a practising licence to be a Company Secretary.

One must be a member of one of the following professional bodies pursuant to Section 139A of the Companies Act, 1965:
- Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA)
- Malaysian Association of Certified Public Accountants (MACPA)
- Malaysian Association of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators (MAISCA)
- Sabah Legal Association
- Sarawak Advocate Association
- Malaysian Bar Council

or

One must possess a licence approved by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, under Section 139B of the Companies Act, 1965.

For those with the necessary qualifications, there are plenty of job opportunities awaiting them.

JOB DESCRIPTION
Career prospects include:
(a) Company Secretary
Generally, the duties of a Company Secretary are as follows:
-  to act as chief administrative officer;
- to comprehend clearly the contents of the company's constitutions and the provisions of the Companies Act, 1965;
- to ensure that the company's registers required to be kept under the provisions of the Companies Act, 1965 are properly kept and maintained;
- to ensure that all statements and forms required to be filed with the Registrar of Companies are prepared and submitted within the prescribed period;
- to familiarise with the activities of the stock exchange and KLSE's regulations for Company Secretaries of public listed companies;
- to arrange and attend shareholders' meetings and board of directors' meetings (sending notices, preparing agendas, arranging proxies, preparing minutes etc);
- to understand meeting procedures, particularly in matters relating to quorum, voting procedures, provision of governing proxies, etc);
- to manage the share capital of the company such as allotment of letters, printing of share certificates, signing of share transfer forms and their dispatch etc;
- to ensure that the accounting records of the companies are kept in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act, 1965 and prepared in the format prescribed under the Act;
- to arrange for the preparation of Statement of Tax Returns and ensure compliance with the requirements of the Income Tax Act, 1967;
- to arrange for insurance related matters and ensure that the assets and activities of the company are adequately insured;
- to be efficient in the various statutory requirements in relation to the activities of the companies; and
- to comply with and carry out the directives of the company's directors.

(b) Confidential Secretary (Personal Secretary, Private Secretary)
- Takes shorthand dictations and reproduces it on paper.
- Performs various clerical duties to assist superiors.
- Receives and opens mails and submits it to superiors for information and further action.
- Maintains a diary to note time, date and venue of meetings and other engagements for employer or superior.
- Reminds employer or superior of engagements and accompanies him/her if required.
- Attends to routine enquiries in person, in writing or over the phone.
- Receives visitors and arranges their interviews or meetings with superiors.
- Keeps important and confidential records.
- May attend to entire correspondence on behalf of the employer or superior.

(c) Secretary General (Government Administrator)
- Plans, organises, directs and controls the activities of a National, State or Local Government departments.
- Advises political heads or governing bodies on important policy questions.
- Draws up proposals and suggestions for consideration by the ministers in the formulation of policies.
- Advises on practicality and the likely effects of specific courses of action.
- Ensures that directives are issued to staff concerned regarding the implementation of policies.
- Checks that policies implemented achieve the desired aims or results and suggests modifications where necessary to improve results.
- Consults other administrators and co-ordinates actions on mutual concerns.
- Interprets government policy directives within his/her field of reference