Message From President MDA 2019/21

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2019

Dr Leong Kei Joe

Dear beloved members and colleagues,

Greetings from Malaysian Dental Association and Happy Malaysia Day 2019. The month of September was indeed another exciting month for the association with the opportunity to meet other National Dental Associations from around globe for important meetings and exchange of ideas / experiences. Just after returning from The 3rd Belt and Road Joint Development Forum on Dentistry/Stomatology at 21st Annual Meeting of Chinese Stomatological Association (CSA) and 2019 China Dental Show at Shanghai on 28th – 29th August 2019, MDA heads off to Seoul to attend the GAMEX 2019 Summit at the 2019 Gyeonggi International Dental Academic Meeting & Exhibition. National Dental Associations from Korea, Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar shared challenges faced by the dental fraternity in the respective countries. Common challenges, among others, such as high caries incidence, fake dentistry, number and distribution of dental practitioners within a country were shared.

Just before the celebration of Malaysia Day, the delegation of the association flew halfway across the globe bringing the Malaysian flag to San Francisco, United States of America to attend the World Dental Parliament Business Meetings of FDI World Dental Congress 2019, from 2nd September till 7th September 2019. The delegation from MDA includes the President Dr Leong Kei Joe, President Elect Dr Lim Chiew Wooi, Honarary General Secretary Dr Chong Zhen Feng and FDI National Liaison Officer Dr Chow Kai Foo. Congratulations to Dr Gerhard Seeberger for officially taking on the position of President of FDI and to Prof Ihsane Ben Yahya for being elected to the position of President-Elect of FDI. Dr Chow Kai Foo ran for the post of FDI Membership Liaison and Support Committee but was not successful. Apart from the active participation in the various forums, MDA also attended the Asia Pacific Dental Federation meeting that was chaired by President Dr Kim. I urge members to download and view the FDI Policy Statements that were passed as these documents form the basis for reference in almost all aspect of the practice of dentistry. The World Oral Health Forum shared and discussed the topic of Universal Healthcare Coverage based on the theme, “The good, the bad and the necessary of Universal Healthcare Coverage. Again, this is another important topic for us to constantly keep abreast with. Other MDA members who were at the FDI World Dental Congress at San Francisco include Kol. Dr Hazudin Hassan, also MDA Council Member, and Brigadier General Datuk Dr Mohd Ilham Haron who attended the meetings organised by the Section of Defence Forces Dental Services and Prof Dr Khoo Suan Phaik who was the speaker at the FDI Scientific Program.

I would also like to share with members other official functions and meetings attended by MDA in the month of September / October:

• Mesyuarat Kumpulan Fokus Belanjawan 2020: Ensuring Greater Access to Quality Healthcare for All on the 6th September 2019 (attended by MDA SCODOS Chairman, Dr Muhammad Farid B Nurdin).
• GSK PR Launch, Oral Healthcare Month – Launch of Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum Toothpaste on the 12th September 2019 (attended by Dr Chong Zhen Feng as the Guest of Honour and the official representative for the President of MDA).
• National Oral Health Plan Executive Committee Meeting 1/2019 on the 12th September 2019 (attended by Dr Leong Kei Joe).
• Mesyuarat mengkaji semula kriteria pembangunan pendidikan profesional secara berterusan (CPD) bagi manual pelaksanaan program jaminan kualiti (QAP) dalam radiologi pergigian by Bahagian Kawalselia Radiasi Perubatan on the 24th September 2019 (attended by Dr Ng Woan Tyng and Dr Siow Ang Yen).
• 18th Penang Dental Congress 2019, 28th – 29th September 2019 (Guest of Honour, President of MDA).
• Leadership Training 2.0 organised by Malaysian Dental Student Association at Semenyih Ecoventure Resort & Recreation, 12th – 13th October 2019 (attended by Dr Leong Kei Joe and Prof. Dato’ Dr Mohamed Ibrahim Abu Hassan as panellist for the forum discussion: The Voice of Dental Students).

I am also pleased to inform that the next MDA council meeting will be held on the 20th October 2019 and a courtesy visit to the office of our Principal Director of Oral Health, Dr Doreyat Bin Jemun, will be on the 21st October 2019. On the matter of lifting of moratorium of new dental schools and intake of dental schools, an invitation has already been extended to MDA to attend the meeting with Director General of Higher Education and Director General of Health on the 27th November 2019. Till we meet again, I wish all members and colleagues best of health always.

Yours,
Kei Joe LEONG