Dentists question move to hold AGM in Sabah

 

The Malaysian Dental Association is expected to hold its annual meeting in Kota Kinabalu on May 2. (Freepik pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

A group of dentists has questioned the decision of the Malaysian Dental Association (MDA) to hold its next annual meeting in Sabah, which will involve high travel cost for most members from West Malaysia.

Dr P Mahendran, on behalf of 50 members, questioned the motive for holding the meeting in Kota Kinabalu on May 4.

He said the group believes that the reason is to avoid debating certain sensitive issues, as motions could be passed more easily and without scrutiny due to a lower attendance.

He said his group was concerned about unresolved complaints against the current leadership which have been submitted to the Registrar of Societies.

He urged MDA president Dr Mas Suryalis Ahmad to provide an explanation. FMT has contacted Mas Suryalis for comment.

Mahendran said only about 100 of the estimated 2,000 members are from Sabah. “The vast majority are from Selangor and Kuala Lumpur,” he told FMT.

He said the estimated cost of about RM3,000 each for travel and lodging would be a significant deterrent for many members from the peninsula, besides the cost of having to close their clinics for a few days.

He also questioned the need for the association to incur the high costs of holding the meeting in Kota Kinabalu.

Mahendran said the travel and lodging expenses for the estimated 35 council members will come out of association funds, amounting to about RM100,000.

“The total cost incurred for organising the meeting could run into tens of thousands of ringgit or even more,” he said. “This is clearly a sheer waste of funds and resources.” - FMT