LEADING WITH PURPOSE: FCPAAM celebrates the official swearing-in of its 10th executive committee

• The FCPAAM held its inauguration ceremony to mark the swearing-in of its 10th Executive Committee.

• FCPAAM continues to advocate for the integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Malaysia’ s healthcare system.

• Prof. Ng Po Kok was re-elected as president, reinforcing continuity in leadership and vision.

BY ADELINE ANTHONY ALPHONSO

The event, steeped in cultural significance, drew representatives from across Malaysia’ s Chinese fraternity. It was officiated by FCPAAM’ s Honorary Advisors- Datuk Seri Yew Teong Look, Datuk Seri Robert Lim and Datuk Peter Ng.

The event also served as a formal transition of leadership, with committee members receiving appointment letters and taking their oath of office.

CONTINUITY AND EXPERIENCE

At the helm once again is Prof. Ng Po Kok, who was re-elected as FCPAAM President. With decades of experience in TCM advocacy and regulation, Ng emphasised the importance of continuity in leadership, noting that stability is crucial for the federation to advance its policy initiatives and maintain member support.

He said:“ We need consistent representation to handle issues like the Health White Paper and the proposed Traditional and Complementary Medicine Bill. Changing presidents every two years stalls our progress.”

Ng Po Kok

ADMINISTRATIVE PRESSURES

One of Ng’ s immediate concerns involves visa issues for visiting TCM doctors, which he says have hindered cross-border exchange and the quality of services at local Chinese medical halls.

He also said that one of the more immediate issues facing the association is the new layer of digital compliance being enforced through the government’ s tax system.

The introduction of e-invoicing under the Sales and Services Tax( SST) framework has placed additional pressure on FCPAAM and its member associations, many of which operate as volunteer-driven nonprofit bodies.

“ Associations like ours are not businesses. We’ re not making profits, yet we’ re being held to the same compliance standards as corporations.

“ If we don’ t register for SST and get into the e-invoicing system, we won’ t be able to claim necessary expenses or even renew rental agreements for our offices. This puts a strain on already limited resources,” Ng explained.

Ng also noted that many smaller TCM associations are struggling to adapt to the digital invoicing requirement due to a lack of expertise or staffing. While FCPAAM has been engaging with relevant authorities to seek exemptions or adjusted requirements for NGOs, no clear resolution has been offered.

The association plans to continue dialogue with the Ministry of Finance( MOF) and other stakeholders to make the case for differentiated treatment of non-profit healthcare bodies.

STANDARDISATION AND SAFETY

In addition to regulatory concerns, Ng pointed to the need for standardisation and stronger oversight in TCM practices. While many younger practitioners are entering the field, the quality of training and adherence to safety protocols varies significantly across institutions and regions.

FCPAAM plans to continue offering its certification programmes and skills development workshops to raise the baseline for professional practice.

“ Cases of unqualified individuals treating patients have made the news. That affects public confidence and undermines the credibility of the whole industry. We have a responsibility to prevent that through better oversight and education,” Ng said.

He added that while FCPAAM welcomes modernisation and regulatory reform, it must be done in a way that accounts for the operational realities of traditional medicine practitioners.

Ng reiterated: There’ s always room to improve, and we’ re not against technology or regulation, but the policies need to be designed with an understanding of what TCM is, how it operates, and what our limitations are.

“ We’ re not clinics with corporate backing. We’ re cultural and community-based healthcare providers.”

Ng said that under his renewed leadership, the federation will also expand its training focus to include administrative and legal compliance, ensuring that members are better equipped to navigate changes in national policies. Digital workshops and resource-sharing platforms are being developed to ease the transition into more regulated environments without overwhelming minor associations.

CONTINUITY IN LEARDERSHIP

As the new committee takes office, Ng’ s goals are clear: strengthen internal training, refine leadership structure, improve engagement with youth, and tackle the regulatory hurdles that continue to impact practitioners on the ground.

However, he is also looking to the future of TCM in Malaysia more broadly- one where traditional values are paired with modern relevance.

Ng summarised:“ We are not just preserving something old; we are building something that can last.”- The HEALTH