All correspondence can be addressed to:
The Malaysian Paediatric Association Secretariat
3rd Floor, Annexe Block,
National Cancer Society Building
66 Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz,
50300 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel. 03-26915379, 26989966
Fax:03-26913446

Historical perspective: Welcome to our new home – finally.

In the 21 years of existence, the MPA has not had a home to call its own until the l st January 1999. In the early years, the MPA Secretariat moved with the president and executive committee. When Dr. Fatimah Harun was the Honorary Secretary, the Paediatric Department of University Hospital was the secretariat and all meetings were held in the cramped department library or conference room. The secretariat later moved to Universit Kebangsaan Malaysia and then t( the Paediatric Institute where D Mohd Sham Kasim managed t obtain 'temporary residency' statu for the MPA. The MPA was in th Paediatric institute, an ideal plac where paediatric and child healt activities, teaching and most paediatricians were located from 1992 till the end of 1998.

Although the environment was suitable and a symbiotic relationship gradually developed, the secretariat was just borrowed space allowed by the Kuala Lumpur Hospital Director and the Head of the Paediatric Institute. We owe a debt of gratitude to these individuals who have allowed us to develop at the Institute to establish a firm footing before moving on.

The search for the new secretariat was a long and trying one. Suggestions changed from office space to apartment to

New Secretariat condominium to landed property and our everoptimistic treasurer had no problems approving any amount mentioned during the meetings (whether we had the money or not was another matter!) Plans to rent a space went to purchasing in view of the drop in the property market and all efforts went to looking at property for sale instead of for rent. After many disheartening attempts, phone calls and comparisons of cost and rentals, we let a lot more people know that we were looking for a home, including a note in the last Berita MPA. After negotiations between Datuk Dr. Sam Abraham and Dato' Dr. S.K. Dharmalingam, President of the National Cancer Society, we managed to secure rental of our new secretariat which is made up of 800 square feet of office space on the 3rd floor of the annexe block of the National Cancer Society building at No. 66, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur.

We move lock, stock and barrel on the first day of 1999 with a 2 year rental agreement with extensions (if we remain good tenants!). We are located next to the 'typhoid centre' food stalls, behind the TPCA stadium which is across the road from the Paediatric Institute. There is parking space during weekends and after office hours (which are the times when we go to the secretariat). The

building also houses the Federal Territory Social Welfare Department, the National Cancer Society secretariat, a mammography centre and a halfway house for cancer patients treated in KLH. The space has been renovated and about RM 12,000 worth of new off ice f urniture has been bought for the secretariat. There is a small meeting room, a small office, a larger office space, a store room and attached wash room. Even a little kitchenette is available for the short snack and coffee to keep members awake during long meetings.

With our new home, the MPA hopes to provide better and more personal service to members. Maintenance of the secretariat in terms of rental, water, electricity and salary for the executive secretary will have to be partially met by subscriptions received from all categories of members so please send them in. Do drop in or call our new home when you are in KIL. The address is (above)

written by Associate Professor Dr Zulkifli Ismail, Hon Secretary 1999