Article 1.

1. Name

The Association shall be called Malaysian Association of Medical Assistants and is referred to hereafter in these Rules as ‘The Association’.

2. Place of Business

The place of business of the Association shall be Bahagian Pembangunan Kesihatan Keluarga, KKM, Putrajaya, or such other address as the Excessive Council from time to time determine with prior approval of the Registrar of Societies.

3. Emblem.

The emblem of the Association is circular in shape showing a stethoscope inside with the symbol of the medical profession (Red Crescent and the Kris with the snake) being held with two hands.

Outside the stethoscope on each side are 10 stalks of padi with the word "MEDIC" written at the diaphragm of the stethoscope.

Inside the stethoscope the motto of the Association i.e. BAKTI MULIA is written. The name of the Association in Bahasa Malaysia and English is written at the upper half of the circle on the inside area.

4. The motto of the Association shall be BAKTI MULIA.

Articles 2

Objects and Powers

1. Objects.

The object of the Association are:-

a. To cater for the profession interest of medical assistants and to all those having connection with and the practice of medical and health sciences towards helping to sustain professional standards and work ethics.

b. To facilitate the exchange of information and ideas by literary, technical and social activities on matters affecting the role of medical assistants in relation to primary health and medical care, emergency medicine, medical/surgical specialization and super specialization and medical management, administration and supervision.

c. To foster and preserve the unity and aim or purpose of the profession.

d. To support a high standard of professional ethics and conduct.

e. To enlighten and direct public opinion on the professional aspects in relation to medical and health problems.

f. To promote the advancement of medical assistant as a profession and to maintain the standard of training, service education and interests of the profession at all levels.

g. To voice its opinion and to acquaint the government and other bodies with the policy and attitude of the medical assistants profession.

h. To promote and participate in social, medical and charitable activities in building a united Malaysian nation.

2. Powers

In the pursuit and furtherance of the objects, the Association shall have the following powers.

a. To arranged periodical meetings of the members or any segment thereof.

b. To prepare and publish scientific papers journals and other publications with prior approval of the authorities concerned, and with prior approval of the competent authority.

c. To construct, maintain, and alter any houses, buildings or works for the objects of the Association.

d. To sell, manage, lease, mortgage, dispose of or otherwise deal with all or part of the property of the Association.

e. To honour and raise money and to invest any monies of the Association not immediately required for any of its objects in such manner as the Association may from time to time think fit.

f. To consider and draft legislation concerning the profession and to submit such proposals to the government.

g. To collect or otherwise acquire sums of money for educational, scientific and charitable purposes.

Article 3

Membership

The membership of the Association shall consist of the following categories:-

a. Ordinary membership

Ordinary membership shall be opened to medical assistants of at least 18 years of age regard, provisionally registered or conditionally registered with the Registrar of Medical Assistants (Registration) Act 180.

b. Honorary membership

Honorary membership may be conferred on persons who are distinguished in public life or who have rendered meritorious service to medical and health sciences, to the medical assistant profession or to this Association. Honorary members are entitled to all privileges except to vote or hold office.

c. Life membership

Life membership shall be opened to Ordinary members who in place the Annual Subscription shall pay commuted sum in either one payment or by equal monthly installments. Life members are entitle to all the privileges of Ordinary members.

d. Associate membership

Associate membership shall be opened to paramedical personnel who are qualified in their respective profession in Malaysia. They shall enjoy all the privileges of Ordinary members except voting and holding office.

e. Student membership shall be opened to registered student medical assistants in recognised medical assistants colleges, provided that no student shall be admitted as a member without the prior written approval of the college head. They shall enjoy the same privileges as Associate members.

f. Foreign membership

oreign membership shall be opened to all Medical Assistants or any equivalent category or personnel whose normal place of residence is outside Malaysia. Foreign members shall have no rights to vote or to hold office in the Association.

Article 4

Admission of members

a. Every candidate for admission except Honorary Members shall complete and sign such application form as the Executive Council may from time to time determine. The application shall be proposed and seconded by two members both of whom shall be Ordinary Members of the Association.

b. Every application for membership shall be forwarded to the Secretary of the Association who shall, at the first convenient opportunity, submit it to the Council for approval.

c. The Executive Council shall have the right not to convey any reason thereof to the applicant in the case where n applicant for membership has been rejected. The rejected applicant shall have the right to appeal to the General Meeting whose decision shall be final.

d. The successful applicant shall receive membership card of the Association valid for one year only upon payment of the appropriate entrance and subscription fees. A new Membership Card shall be issued on payment of a full year’s subscription.

e. Honorary members shall be conferred at a General Meeting on the recommendation of the Council.

Article 5

a. Entrance Fee

There shall be an entrance fee of five dollars per member for Ordinary and Associate Membership, which shall become due on admission.

b. Subscription

ubscription shall be made available to the Treasurer or his representative in the following manner: -

i. An Ordinary Member shall pay a subscription of forty dollars a year payable by yearly installments.

ii. An Associate Member shall pay a subscription of forty dollars a year payable by yearly installments.

iii. A Student member shall pay a subscription of forty dollars a year payable by yearly installments.

iv. Honorary members shall not be required to pay for any subscription.

Article 6

Registrar of Membership

a. The Secretary shall maintain a Register of membership of every member in the Association.

b. It shall be obligation of the member concerned to notify the Secretary of any change in relevant personnel particulars

e.g. address and name.

c. The name of those who cease to be member shall be removed forthwith from the Register of membership.

Article 7

Termination

a. Any member of the Association may resign from the Association by giving the Secretary of the Association notice in writing to that effect, provided that any member giving such notice shall be liable to pay his subscription up to date in which such notice was given.

b. Any member in arrears of the subscription for a period of 6 month’s insofacto cease to be a member.

c. Any member whose name is struck off the Register of the Medical Assistant’s Board, West Malaysia, shall insofacto cease to a member.

d. A member who is under any financial liability to the Association shall not be entitled to terminate his membership without the sanction of the Executive Council.

Article 8

Composition of the Executive Council

a. The following elected at a Biennial General Meeting shall comprise the Executive Council:-

i. A President
ii. A President Elect
iii. An Honorary Secretary
iv. An. Hon. Treasurer
v. An Hon. Assistant Secretary
vi. Six Ordinary Members

The office bearers of the Association and every officer performing executive functions in the Association shall be Malaysian citizens.

b. The Executive Council may fill any vacancy, which may occur during its term of office by appointment provided that any one time there shall not be less than SIX of the Council Members elected at the last general meeting. Any further vacancies shall be filled by members elected at an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting, which shall be held within SIX weeks of the vacancy occurring.

c. The Council shall meet at least once every three months.

d. All Council Member shall where possible serve till the Biennial General Meeting or whence otherwise resigned, or out-voted in an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting called for the purpose.

e. All Council Members may be re-elected.

f. Any Council Member, not attending three consecutive meetings shall unless he gives an explanation which Council considers satisfactory, cease to be a Council Member or, who is suspended or who shall cease membership of the Association by reason of suspension, expulsion of cessation of membership, shall vacate his seat.

g. Any Council Member may vacate office by sending a letter of resignation to the Secretary.

Article 9

Duties of the Office Bearers

I. President

a. He shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the association.
b. Preside at all General and Council Meetings and shall countersign the minutes of the meetings.
c. Ensure that the Association is functioning within the context of its Rules.
d. See that the Executive Council has regular meetings, call all meetings to order promptly at the specified time and the proceeding kept moving along without deviation from the main subject under consideration.
e. Follow acceptable rules of parliamentary procedures in conducting proceedings of all meetings.
f. Countersign all cheques and vouchers in payment of Association’s obligations.
g. Shall have a casting vote.

II. President Elect

Shall share with the President the responsibilities of the Association and deputise the President in the latter’s absence, and shall automatically assume the post of President at the next Biennial General Meeting.

III. The Honorary Secretary

a. Shall be under the supervision and direction of the Executive Council, be responsible for the general management of the Association.

b. In charge of all administration and correspondence of the Association except accounts and financial records.

c. Keep all material property of the Association until such time the Association has its own premises.

d. Keep minutes of all general and Executive Council Meetings.

e. Shall at all meeting, if present or if otherwise decided, record all minutes with the right to speak and vote.

f. Countersign all cheques and vouchers in payment of Association’s obligations.

g. Write the Association’s newsletter, or bulletin, where practicable with the collaboration with the editorial committee.

h. Notify the Executive Council or members if necessity arises for a council or general meeting.

III. The Honorary Treasurer.

a. Shall be responsible for the financial management of the Association.

b. Shall receive all monies, such as entrance fees, subscriptions and donations from the relevant sources and deposit the same in a bank or banks recommended by the Executive Council.

c. Pay out monies below $50.00 in payment of Association’s obligations and payment above the said sum in the authority given by the Executive Council. All cheques shall be written by the Treasurer and countersigned by the President and Secretary.

d. Keep proper books and accounts for the purpose.

e. Send at least 2 (two) reminders to the member whose subscription has become due.

f. Render to the Executive Council or general meeting an account of monies received and expended on behalf of the Association.

g. Prepare and submit annual financial report including:

i. Audited statement of receipts and payment
ii. Balance Sheet.

Assistant Secretary

Shall assist the Secretary and the Treasurer when called upon to do so.

IV. The Ordinary Council Members

The Ordinary Council members shall ensure that the officials of the Association act and perform in the interest of the Association as a whole. They may by virtue of their office, collectively caution, warn or substitute an official, if it is proved beyond reasonable doubt that such an officer bearer is detrimental to the interests of the Association.

Article 10

Power and obligation of the Executive Council
The governing of the Association and the conduct of its business between Biennial Meetings shall be vested in the Executive Council and the Executive Council shall be empowered to: -

a. Subject to rules and b-laws raise funds to further the aforesaid objects.

b. Produce and publish and distribute to members or potential members books, phamplets and other literatures as may tend to promote the objects of the Association.

c. Appoint ad-hoc committee as and when deems necessary to carry out the objects of the Association.

d. The Executive Council shall have the power to reprimand, suspend or expel any member who shall infringe any article in these rules or by-laws of the Association or whose conduct shall, in the opinion of the Council, render him or her unfit for membership provided that no member shall be suspended or expelled without first being offered opportunity to explain his conduct to the Council, and unless at least 2/3 of the Council then present shall vote for his expulsion or suspension. The suspended member shall forfeit all his rights and privileges under the Rules during suspension, but shall remain liable to pay his subscription. The expelled member shall have the right to appeal to the General Meeting, which shall be called by the Council within TWENTY-ONE DAYS of receiving the notice of appeal.

e. To use its own discretion to interpret any matters arising out of any point in these rule or otherwise which is not expressly provided for in these rules. Such decision of the Council shall be binding on all members until and unless countermanded by a General Meeting. The Executive Council shall act on behalf of the Association on all matters whereon these Rules do not expressly provide otherwise.

Article 11

Auditors

Two Honorary Auditors shall be elected at the Biennial General Meeting. They shall not be members of the Executive Council. The auditors shall audit all accounts of the Association, and for that purpose shall have access to all relevant books of the Association, and shall examine the Annual Statement of Accounts and verify it with the Accounts, vouchers and documents relating thereto, and shall either sign the same as found by them to be correct and duly vouch or shall saperately report t the Association in what respect they found them incorrect or unvouced. The Auditors shall hold office for two years only unless otherwise specially decided at a Biennial General Meeting.

Article 12

Finance

a. The financial year of the Association shall begin on the first of January of each year and end on the thirty first December of the same year.

b. Treasure shall not have in his hands any sum exceeding fifty dollars for petty cash and cash forthwith deposit in the Association’s bank account all monies in excess of that sum.

c. Any cheque drawn on the Association’ bank account shall be signed by the Treasure and countersigned by the President and the Secretary.

d. No payment exceeding $50.00 shall be made from the funds of the Association unless authorised or rectified by the Executive Council.

Article 13

General Meeting of the Association

a. The Biennial General Meeting shall be held as soon as possible after the first January of each alternate year and not later than the last day of March, at a convenient centre determine by the Executive Council.

b. The business of the Biennial General Meeting shall be:-

i. A report by the Secretary on the activities of the proceeding year.

ii. A report by the Treasurer and his presentation of the audited Annual Statement of Accounts.

iii. Election of Council Members and Officials.

iv. Election of two Honorary Auditors, once every two years.

v. To deal with such other matters as may be put before it.

c. Any member wishing to bring up a matter not named in the agenda accompanying the notice of the Annual General Meeting shall give written notice to the Secretary at least seven days before the date of the meeting.

Article 14

a. An Extra-ordinary General Meeting shall also be convened by the Executive Council or on the requisition signed by one quarter of the total voting membership in benefit stating the special object thereof, such meeting shall be held within twenty-one days from the date of receipt by the Secretary of the requisition.

b. Notice for an Extra-ordinary General Meeting shall be sent to all members not less than 14 days before the date fixed for such meetings and shall state the business to be discussed at the meetings.

c. Unless prior notification is given no other business other than that named in the notice shall be brought before the Extra-ordinary General Meeting.

Article 15

Notice and Quorum for all meetings

i. A notice together with an agenda and minutes of the previous meeting shall be given at least seven days before the meeting of the Executive Council and at least 21 days before any General Meeting. A copy of the audited Statement of Accounts shall be sent together with the notice for the Biennial General Meeting.

ii. A quorum for an Executive Council Meeting shall be one-half of its members. In the absence of the President or President Elect one of the present Council members maybe elected Chairman of the meeting.

iii. A quorum for a General Meeting shall consists of at least one-half of the total voting membership or twice the Executive Council members, whichever is the lesser.

iv. If half on hour after the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting shall be postponed to a date not exceeding 30 days to be decided by the Executive Council, and if a quorum is not present half an hour after the time appointed for the postponed meeting, the members present shall have power to proceed with the business of the day but they shall not have power to alter the rules of the Association or to make decision affecting the whole membership.

Article 16

Affiliation

The Biennial or Extra-ordinary General Meeting shall have the power to cause the Association to be affliated to or to be member of National or International professional organisation provided that no such decision shall be effective without the consent of at least two third of the members present and eligible to vote at the meeting.

Article 17

Amendments

The Rules shall not be amended except at the Biennial General Meeting or at the Extra-ordinary General Meeting of the Association called specially for the purpose with the consent of at least two thirds of the members present and entitle to vote. Any amendment to the rules shall be submitted to the Registrar of Societies within 28 days after the decision to make such amendment has been duly passed. The amended rules shall not come into force without the sanction of the Registrar of Societies.

Article 18

Dissolution

a. The Association shall not be dissolved, except with the consent of not less than 3/5 of the voting members of the Association expressed either in person or by proxy at the General Meeting convened for the purpose or by postal vote.

b. In the event of the Association being dissolved, all debts and liabilities legally incurred on its behalf shall be fully discharged and the remaining funds shall be disposed of in a manner determined at a General Meeting.

c. Notice of dissolution shall be given within 14 days of the dissolution to the Registrar of Societies.

Article 19

Prohibitions

a. Gambling of any kind whether for stakes or not are forbidden on the Association’s premises. The introduction of material for gambling or drug smoking and of bad characters into the premises is prohibited.

b. The funds of the Association shall not be used to pay fines of members who have been convicted in court.

c. The Association shall not attempt to participate or in any other manner interfere with the trade or prices or engage in any trade union activities as defined in the Trade Union Ordinance 1959.

d. The Association shall not indulge in any political activity or allow its fund and premises to be used for political purposes.

e. The Association shall not hold any lottery whether confined to its members or not in the name of the Association or its Office Bearers, Executive Council or members unless a licence has been obtained from the proper authority.