MMA Perak Marks 54 Years of Caring for the Community
On 14 February 2026, approximately 400 doctors and healthcare professionals gathered at AC Marriott, Ipoh, for the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) Perak Branch 54th Anniversary and Installation Banquet.
The occasion marked both a milestone anniversary, and the installation of Dr. Monesh Pillai as the new Chairman, setting the tone for a leadership term focused on member participation, professional support, and sustained community outreach.
Installation of New MMA Perak Chairman and Committee
The centrepiece of the event was the formal appointment of Dr. Monesh Pillai to lead MMA Perak.
A Perak-born doctor educated at Kursk State Medical University in Russia, Dr. Monesh has served in both public and private healthcare settings. His areas of professional interest include occupational medicine, dermatology, and diabetes management, supported by several postgraduate qualifications completed during the COVID-19 period.
Besides clinical work, he has participated in humanitarian missions, including flood relief operations with MERCY Malaysia. Through Rotary International, he also contributed to disaster recovery efforts, community development projects, plus international aid programmes, earning the Rotary International Avenues of Service Award.
Within MMA Perak, Dr. Monesh has held committee positions since 2020, contributing to professional education programmes and outreach activities.
During his speech, he encouraged doctors to renew their membership and welcomed new practitioners to join the association. He highlighted that membership would increasingly carry tangible value, as the committee is working with corporate partners to provide preferential benefits to members. The first collaboration is with Pantai Hospital Ipoh, under IHH Healthcare.
His leadership priorities include strengthening doctors’ welfare, expanding professional development opportunities, and continuing community health initiatives.
A Cultural and Collegial Evening
Guests complied with the dress code of batik and kebaya, depicting the formal dinner a distinctly Malaysian identity and creating a relaxed setting for colleagues to interact outside clinical environments.
Entertainment included a live performance by Nightbirds as well as a cultural dance presentation by a troupe from Penang, adding a traditional element to the celebration. Lucky draws kept the programme engaging throughout the evening, with a wide range of household electrical appliances given away as prizes. The excitement built up towards the grand prize, a 32-inch Sharp Smart TV, which drew enthusiastic reactions from the audience.
Furthermore, event partner Tian Seng sponsored a separate draw featuring three BMW trolley suitcases, adding another highlight to the joyous gathering, thus giving more guests the chance to leave with memorable rewards.
The event was also attended by Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), YB Tuan M. Kulasegaran, together with national MMA President Datuk Dr. Thirunavukarasu Rajoo and Deputy Director Dr. Muhammad Najib bin Adnan.
During the event, YB Tuan M. Kulasegaran pledged RM10,000 to support MMA Perak community programmes. The association also contributed RM2,500 to Persatuan Kebajikan Anak-Anak Yatim Kasih Sayang Ipoh.
In addition to the installation and anniversary celebrations, MMA Perak also took time to recognise academic excellence within its extended family. Meanwhile, the association honoured members’ children who achieved outstanding results in the 2024 SPM examinations.
Two recipients, Harish Prasad and Steven Cheong, were presented with tokens of appreciation in acknowledgement of their hard work and dedication, reflecting the association’s encouragement of educational achievement beyond the medical profession.
About the Malaysian Medical Association
Established in 1959, the Malaysian Medical Association represents doctors nationwide across public and private sectors, with over 19,000 members.
Its roles include:
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The association serves both the medical profession and the wider public through professional standards and community health initiatives.
MMA Perak’s Ongoing Community Work
Since its establishment in the 1970s, MMA Perak has maintained consistent programmes for doctors and the public across the state.
Key activities include:
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These initiatives support preventive healthcare awareness while strengthening frontline medical practice in Perak.
This installation marks a continuation of MMA Perak’s role as both a professional network and a community partner. Under new leadership, the branch aims to provide stronger support for doctors while maintaining regular public health engagement.
After 54 years, the association remains a platform where practitioners collaborate, share expertise, and serve society beyond clinical practice.
View the full photo album of MMA Perak 54th Anniversary & Installation Banquet 2026 on our official Facebook Page by clicking HERE.
Event: MMA Perak 54th Anniversary & Installation Banquet
Venue: AC Hotel by Marriott Ipoh
Date: 14th Feb 2026
Time: 7pm
