Malaysia - Malaysian Medical Association faces deregistration

SEREMBAN - The Registrar of Societies has issued a show cause letter to the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) as to why it should not be deregistered following alleged irregularities in the running of the organisation as well as the election of its office bearers.

It is understood that the MMA has been given two weeks to explain four charges preferred against it on matters relating to the association's annual general meeting (AGM) and election of office bearers held in May.

The ROS had initiated an investigation following complaints made by members who were unhappy with the manner by which the AGM and election were conducted.

Several members were also interviewed.

The show cause letter issued by Kuala Lumpur ROS assistant registrar Zuliana Mohd Akob states that the MMA had deliberately violated its by-laws on several matters.

(It is learnt that the show cause letter was issued late last week).

Zuliana said MMA office bearers had breached a provision by failing to send out the list of candidates vying for positions seven weeks before the AGM, which was held at the end of May.

"This is a clear violation of by-law 9(5)(ii) as the list of those who wished to contest the 2011 election was sent out late," she said.

It is learnt that the list was only sent out between three and four weeks prior to the AGM.

The ROS said the office bearers had also contravened another provision when MMA sent out a misleading agenda for the May AGM.

It is understood that although this was an election year, the matter was not included in the agenda.

Zuliana said the office bearers had violated article 10(1)(g), (h) and (i) of the MMA constitution which states that every matter to be discussed in the next AGM should be included in the agenda sent out to members before the meeting.

It is also understood that the office bearers had enforced certain amendments to the MMA by-laws although these were never approved by the ROS.

This was also against provisions in its by-laws as well as the Societies Act.

Zuliana said there were also other irregularities whereby the office bearers had asked members to nominate candidates for the posts of deputy secretaries well before the AGM.

This was also against the MMA constitution as such nominations were only allowed during the AGM proper.

When contacted, MMA president Dr Mary Suma Cardosa confirmed that the association had been issued a show cause letter.

"We have replied to the charges and we feel there is no issue.

"These are internal matters and we expect them to be sorted out soon," she added.

The Star/Asia News Network

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