Dr L. Sivanaesan appointed new MMA president

IPOH: Dr L Sivanaesan has been appointed as the new president of the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), taking over from Datuk Dr R Thirunavukarasu. The former MMA president-elect had earlier served as the chairman of MMA Selangor, held the position of honorary deputy secretary for two terms, and headed the MMA Private Practitioners Section from 2023 to 2024.

During his address at the MMA 2026 dinner, Sivanaesan emphasized that maintaining doctors within Malaysia's public healthcare system would be his top priority, given the nation's escalating healthcare requirements and growing need for medical professionals. He highlighted that training a doctor demands a considerable amount of time and substantial investment.

Sivanaesan pointed out that when experienced doctors leave the public sector, they are not merely losing a workforce member; they are also losing their experience, expertise, and the continuity of care they offer to patients. He stated that retaining doctors cannot be achieved merely by increasing the number of medical graduates; instead, more focus should be placed on doctors' career advancement, working environment, professional growth, and long-term prospects within the public healthcare system.