Leadership

The first President of MTS was one of the pioneers in respiratory medicine in Malaysia, the late Dr Gopal Prathap, who was a former Director of the National Tuberculosis Centre (renamed as the Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital Kuala Lumpur since 1995). He was the society president for three years (1986 -1989) and was succeeded by Dr K. Ampikaipakan (now a Tan Sri Datuk), a chest physician in private practice who was the president of the society from 1989 - 1992. Dr I. Kuppusamy, the then Director of the Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital Kuala Lumpur at that time was the next President of MTS from 1992-1996. Datin Dr Aziah Ahmad Mahayiddin, a senior consultant chest physician and Director of the Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, took over the helm from 1996-1999. From 1999 to 2001, the office was held by Dr Zainuddin Md. Zin, a consultant chest physician of Damansara Specialist Hospital, Kuala Lumpur. Dr Zainudin was formerly a Professor and senior lecturer in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. He was succeeded by Professor Dr Liam Chong Kin, a senior consultant chest physician at the University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur from 2001 – 2009. Professor Dr Roslina Abdul Manap, who is the senior consultant chest physician at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia held the post from 2009 – 2017 and she was succeeded by Associate Professor Dr Pang Yong Kek from University Malaya Medical Centre. Associate Professor Dr Ahmad Izuanuddin Ismail, who is the Deputy Director & Consultant Respiratory Physician, Hospital Universiti Teknologi Mara (HUiTM) was elected as President in 2023.