Assistant Manager - Legal and Compliance

NAIM Holdings Berhad; Kuching; On-site; MYR 180,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

NAIM Holdings Berhad, based in Kuching, Sarawak, seeks Assistant Manager – Legal & Compliance to oversee the group’s legal operations, governance, and compliance across project sites and corporate activities.

The role focuses on property development, real estate transactions, construction contracts, and state land administration, ensuring adherence to Sarawak ordinances, federal laws, and internal policies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) or recognized equivalent is required.
• 4–7 years of relevant legal/compliance experience in property development, real estate, or construction.
• Hands-on experience with land transactions, master conveyancing, project development documentation, and developer licensing in Sarawak.
• Strong knowledge of Sarawak Land Code (Cap. 81), Strata regulations, and related housing and construction laws.
• Solid drafting, negotiation, and interpersonal skills; fluent in English and Bahasa Malaysia.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate land acquisition agreements, joint ventures, leases, and tenancy documents.
• Review standard SPAs, deeds of mutual covenant, facility agreements, and loan documentation.
• Provide legal advice on land administration under Sarawak Land Code (Cap. 81) including title issuance and strata management.
• Coordinate with external solicitors, land registries, and project consultants to track conveyancing timelines.
• Vet, draft, and negotiate construction/engineering contracts and procurement tenders; advise on variations and LAD.
• Manage litigation/arbitration and CIPAA matters with external counsel.
• Ensure compliance with PDPA, MACC Section 17A, AMLA, and environmental safety requirements; conduct internal checks.

Skills

Legal drafting

Contract negotiation

Regulatory compliance

Conveyancing

Risk assessment

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Education

LL.B or recognized equivalent

Job description

The Assistant Manager – Legal & Compliance supports the group’s legal operations, statutory governance, and compliance frameworks across project sites and corporate operations, based in Kuching, Sarawak. With a core focus on property development, real estate transactions, construction contracts, and state land administration, this role oversees day-to-day legal documentation, regulatory approvals, project-related compliance, and risk mitigation to safeguard the company’s assets and ensure strict adherence to Sarawak state ordinances, federal legislation, industry regulations, and internal policies.

Property Development & Real Estate Transactions

• Draft, review, and negotiate agreements relating to land acquisition, joint ventures, disposal of property assets, leases, and tenancies.
• Review and manage standard sale and purchase agreements (SPA), deeds of mutual covenant, facility agreements, and loan documentation.
• Provide legal advice on land administration matters under the Sarawak Land Code (Cap. 81), including native land classifications, special conditions, conversion, subdivision, amalgamation, title issuance, and strata management.
• Coordinate with external solicitors, panel law firms, land registries, and project consultants to track loan drawdown, title perfection, and conveyance timelines.

Construction & Operational Contracts

• Vet, draft, and negotiate construction and engineering contracts (such as PAM, CIDB, or bespoke standard forms), consultancy agreements, and procurement tenders.
• Advise project management and contract teams on contractor claims, variations, liquidated ascertained damages (LAD), defects liability, and dispute settlement.
• Manage litigation, arbitration, Construction Industry Payment and Adjudication Act (CIPAA) proceedings, and legal notices alongside external legal counsel.

Regulatory Compliance & Industry Governance

• Ensure strict adherence to the Housing Development (Control and Licensing) Ordinance (Sarawak), Strata (Subsidiary Titles) Ordinance (Sarawak), Strata Management framework, Building By-Laws, and local planning guidelines from municipal councils (e.g., DBKU, MBKS, MPP).
• Monitor licensing requirements, developer advertising permits, and statutory submissions to the Sarawak Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government and local authorities.
• Oversee enterprise-wide adherence to the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), anti-bribery and corruption frameworks (MACC Section 17A), and environmental safety regulations (including NREB Sarawak requirements).
• Conduct periodic internal compliance checks across project sites and sales galleries in Sarawak, establishing corrective actions for identified regulatory risks.

Role Specifications & Requirements

• Based full-time in Kuching, Sarawak.
• Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) or recognized equivalent legal degree from an accredited institution.
• 4 to 7 years of relevant legal and compliance experience, with substantial exposure gained directly within the property development, real estate, or construction industries (in-house or via a conveyancing/real estate practice in a law firm).
• Hands-on experience handling land transactions, master conveyancing, project development documentation, and developer licensing in Sarawak.
• Practical knowledge of the Sarawak Land Code (Cap. 81), state housing development legislation, Strata regulations, and construction contracts.
• Thorough understanding of conveyance procedures, bridging finance documentation, and title perfection processes with the Land and Survey Department Sarawak.
• Solid grounding in corporate compliance frameworks, including Section 17A MACC (Corporate Liability), PDPA, and Anti-Money Laundering (AMLA) requirements in property transactions.
• Strong commercial acumen with practical judgment to navigate project deadlines and regulatory hurdles without compromising legal integrity.
• High analytical rigor and precision in drafting complex joint venture and land acquisition terms.
• Strong negotiation and interpersonal skills to liaise effectively with Sarawak state authorities, Land and Survey officers, local councils, project teams, and external solicitors.
• High level of ethics, discretion, and accountability in dealing with high-value transactions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Bahasa Malaysia.