Society of MMA Medical Students (SMMAMS): MMA 50th Anniversary Dinner with Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

MMA 50th Anniversary Dinner with Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak

Last 2 weeks, on the 14th of July 2010, the Society of Malaysian Medical Association Medical Students (SMMAMS) was invited to attend the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) 50th Anniversary dinner with the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at the Hotel Royale Chulan, Kuala Lumpur. About 1000 doctors from all over Malaysia attended the dinner. Those attending include SMMAMS Immediate Past Chairman, Mr. Thanesh Kumar; Chairman Mr. Justin Lee; Vice Chairman, Mr. Lutfi Fadil bin Lokman; Secretary, Ms. Loo Kar Yee; Asst. Secretary, Mr. Melvin Loh; Treasurer, Ms. Sheela Josephine John and committee members Mr. Vincent Khor, Ms. Priya Dashene Raj and Ms. Jayanthi Selvam.

The dinner was preceded with the arrival of the Prime Minister along with other VIPs, including the Minister of Health, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai; Minister of Tourism, Datuk Seri Dr. Ng Yen Yen; Deputy Minister of Defence Datuk Dr. Abdul Latiff and our Director General of Health Tan Sri Datuk Haji Mohn Ismail Merican, and the current MMA President, Dr. David Quek Kwang Leng.

An opening speech was given by the organizing chairman, Dr. Kuljit Singh, followed by speech from MMA President, Dr. David. He spoke on healthcare in 10th Malaysian Plan, free trade zone among doctors in ASEAN zone, 1Care Malaysia, medical education in Malaysia and the most important issue, the 1Malaysia Clinic being managed by MA and Nurses.

The summit of the event was the speech by the Prime Minister. He addressed several issues encountered by the medical profession, and announced his plan to launch 1Malaysia Mobile clinic and open more 1 Malaysia Clinics under the 10th Malaysia Plan as part of its continuous effort to provide quality and afforadable healthcare services to the people.

The MMA is now 50 years old (1960 - 2010). The honorable Prime Minister after his speech launched the new 50th Year MMA logo followed by cutting of anniversary cake. A token of appreciation from MMA was handed to Prime Minister by the MMA president, Dr. David Quek. It was a framed picture of the late PM's father, Tun Abdul Razak in 1967, as he was declaring opening of the 5-storey MMA building in Jalan Pahang, Kuala Lumpur.

It was a great honor for the SMMAMS Committee to attend such a prestigious dinner and have a chance to meet the PM in person. Through the interview with some of the senior MMA members, we had the opportunity to learn the ropes of the Malaysian Healthcare system. It was inspiring to realize that we are all going to be the future leaders, and someday our time will come for us to lead and share the responsibility of ensuring continuous advancement of the Malaysian healthcare.

SMMAMS committee members with DG for Health Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Haji Mohd Ismail Merican (President of Malaysian Medical Council) with MMA President, Dr. David (Right end)