Kuala lumpur: Dr L Sivanaesan has been appointed as the new president of the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), taking over from Datuk Dr R Thirunavukarasu, whose term has concluded.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr Sivanaesan brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having served as the Chairman of MMA Selangor, the Honorary Deputy Secretary of the MMA for two terms, and the Chairman of the MMA Private Practitioners Section from 2023 to 2024. His appointment was announced at the MMA 2026 dinner, where he highlighted his commitment to retaining doctors in Malaysia's public healthcare system amid a growing demand for healthcare services and the need for more healthcare workers.

Dr Sivanaesan emphasized the importance of retaining experienced doctors within the public systems, noting that losing such professionals results in the loss of experience, expertise, and continuity of care. He pointed out that addressing this issue requires more than just increasing the number of medical graduates. He stressed the need to focus on doctors' career progression, working environment, professional development, and long-term prospects to ensure they remain within the public healthcare system.