Exhibit 10.1


 


THIS PROMISSORY NOTE (“NOTE”)
HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”). THIS NOTE HAS BEEN ACQUIRED FOR
INVESTMENT ONLY AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED IN THE ABSENCE OF REGISTRATION OF THE RESALE THEREOF UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY IN FORM, SCOPE AND SUBSTANCE TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.


 


PROMISSORY NOTE


 


Principal Amount: Up to $300,000


Dated as of August 2, 2021


New York, New York


 


Malacca Straits Acquisition
Company Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Maker”), promises to pay to the order of Malacca Straits Management
Company Limited, a BVI business company, or its registered assigns or successors in interest or order (“Payee”), the
principal sum of up to Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00) in lawful money of the United States of America, on the terms and
conditions described below. All payments on this Note shall be made by check or wire transfer of immediately available funds or as otherwise
determined by Maker to such account as Payee may from time to time designate by written notice in accordance with the provisions of this
Note.


 


1.
Repayment. The principal balance of this Note shall be payable by Maker on the earlier of (such date, the “Maturity
Date”), subject to Section 12 below, (a) the date on which Maker consummates its initial business combination and (b) the date
of the liquidation of Maker. The principal balance may be prepaid at any time, at the election of Maker. Under no circumstances shall
any individual, including but not limited to any officer, director, employee or shareholder of the Maker, be obligated personally for
any obligations or liabilities of the Maker hereunder.

 


2.
Interest. This Note shall be non-interest bearing.

 


3.
Drawdown Requests. Payee, in its sole and absolute discretion, may fund up to Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00) for
costs reasonably related to Maker’s consummation of an initial business combination and other working capital requirements. The
principal of this Note may be drawn down from time to time until the date on which Maker consummates its initial business combination,
upon written request from Maker to Payee (each, a “Drawdown Request”). Each Drawdown Request must state the amount
to be drawn down, and must be in multiples of not less than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) unless agreed upon by Maker and Payee. Payee,
in its sole discretion, shall fund each Drawdown Request no later than three (3) business days after receipt of a Drawdown Request; provided,
however, that the maximum amount of drawdowns collectively under this Note shall not exceed Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00).
Except as set forth herein, no fees, payments or other amounts shall be due to Payee in connection with, or as a result of, any Drawdown
Request by Maker.

 


4.
Application of Payments. All payments received by Payee pursuant to this Note shall be applied first to the payment in full
of any costs incurred in the collection of any sum due under this Note, including (without limitation) reasonable attorney’s fees,
and then to the reduction of the unpaid principal balance of this Note.

 


5.
Events of Default. The following shall constitute an event of default (“Event of Default”):

 


(a) Failure to Make
Required Payments. Failure by Maker to pay the principal amount due pursuant to this Note within five (5) business days of the
date specified above.


 


(b) Voluntary Bankruptcy,
Etc. The commencement by Maker of a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, rehabilitation
or other similar law, or the consent by it to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian,
sequestrator (or other similar official) of Maker or for any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of any assignment for
the benefit of creditors, or the failure of Maker generally to pay its debts as such debts become due, or the taking of corporate action
by Maker in furtherance of any of the foregoing.


 




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(c) Involuntary Bankruptcy,
Etc. The entry of a decree or order for relief by a court having jurisdiction in the premises in respect of Maker in an involuntary
case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee,
sequestrator (or similar official) of Maker or for any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of
its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days.


 


6.
Remedies.

 


(a) Upon the occurrence
of an Event of Default specified in Section 5(a) hereof, Payee may, by written notice to Maker, declare this Note to be due immediately
and payable, whereupon the unpaid principal amount of this Note, and all other amounts payable thereunder, shall become immediately due
and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived, anything contained
herein or in the documents evidencing the same to the contrary notwithstanding.


 


(b) Upon the occurrence
of an Event of Default specified in Sections 5(b) or 5(c), the unpaid principal balance of this Note, and all other sums payable with
regard to this Note, shall automatically and immediately become due and payable, in all cases without any action on the part of Payee.


 


7. Waivers. Maker
and all endorsers and guarantors of, and sureties for, this Note waive presentment for payment, demand, notice of dishonor, protest, and
notice of protest with regard to this Note, all errors, defects and imperfections in any proceedings instituted by Payee under the terms
of this Note, and all benefits that might accrue to Maker by virtue of any present or future laws exempting any property, real or personal,
or any part of the proceeds arising from any sale of any such property, from attachment, levy or sale under execution, or providing for
any stay of execution, exemption from civil process, or extension of time for payment; and Maker agrees that any real property that may
be levied upon pursuant to a judgment obtained by virtue hereof, on any writ of execution issued hereon, may be sold upon any such writ
in whole or in part in any order desired by Payee.


 


8. Unconditional
Liability. Maker hereby waives all notices in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance, default, or enforcement
of the payment of this Note, and agrees that its liability shall be unconditional, without regard to the liability of any other party,
and shall not be affected in any manner by any indulgence, extension of time, renewal, waiver or modification granted or consented to
by Payee, and consents to any and all extensions of time, renewals, waivers, or modifications that may be granted by Payee with respect
to the payment or other provisions of this Note, and agrees that additional makers, endorsers, guarantors, or sureties may become parties
hereto without notice to Maker or affecting Maker’s liability hereunder.


 


9. Notices. All
notices, statements or other documents which are required or contemplated by this Note shall be: (i) in writing and delivered personally
or sent by first class registered or certified mail, overnight courier service or facsimile or electronic transmission to the address
designated in writing, (ii) by facsimile to the number most recently provided to such party or such other address or fax number as may
be designated in writing by such party and (iii) by electronic mail, to the electronic mail address most recently provided to such party
or such other electronic mail address as may be designated in writing by such party. Any notice or other communication so transmitted
shall be deemed to have been given on the day of delivery, if delivered personally, on the business day following receipt of written confirmation,
if sent by facsimile or electronic transmission, one (1) business day after delivery to an overnight courier service or five (5) days
after mailing if sent by mail.


 


10. Construction. THIS
NOTE SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAWS PROVISIONS THEREOF.


 


11. Severability. Any
provision contained in this Note which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective
to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or
unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.


 




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12. Trust
Waiver. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Payee hereby waives any and all right, title, interest or claim of any kind
(“Claim”) in or to any distribution of or from the trust account (the “Trust Account”) established
in connection with Maker’s initial public offering, and hereby agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction
for any Claim against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever; provided, however, that upon the consummation of the initial business
combination, Maker shall repay the principal balance of this Note out of the proceeds released to Maker from the Trust Account.


 


13. Amendment;
Waiver. Any amendment hereto or waiver of any provision hereof may be made with, and only with, the written consent of Maker and Payee.


 


14. Assignment.
No assignment or transfer of this Note or any rights or obligations hereunder may be made by any party hereto (by operation of law or
otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other party hereto and any attempted assignment without the required consent shall
be void; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply to an affiliate of Payee who agrees to be bound to the terms
of this Note.


 


[Signature Page Follows]


 




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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Maker, intending to
be legally bound hereby, has caused this Note to be duly executed by the undersigned as of the day and year first above written.


  


	 	Malacca Straits Acquisition Company Limited
	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Kenneth Ng
	 	Name: 	Kenneth Ng
	 	Title:	Chief Executive Officer


 


 


[Signature Page to Promissory Note]