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A night view of the Petronas Twin Towers the tallest twin-towers in the world located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur
List of all "Spotlights"
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SPOTLIGHT ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IN MALAYSIA
 Malaysian Association of Environmental Health
Member of IFEH
MALAYSIAN ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH (MAEH)
Malaysia has a population of about 29 million. It consists of thirteen states and three federal territories and has a total landmass of 329,847 square kilometers (127,350 sq mi) separated by the South China
Sea into two similarly sized regions, Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia. The capital city is Kuala Lumpur, while Putrajaya is the seat of the Federal Government. The country is multi racial comprising of
the Malays, Chinese, Indians and many indigenous races like the Ibans and Kadazans in East Malaysia.
Malaysia is a federal constitutional elective monarchy. The system of government is closely modeled upon that of the Westminster parliamentary system, a legacy of British colonial rule.
Environmental Health Professional Development in Malaysia
Sanitary and Municipality Board was established by the British administration in the 1800’s.
Training of health inspectors (HI) was conducted at the King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore from 1921 to 1958 in order to obtain a Diploma from the Royal Society of Health London.
Training was transferred to the newly independent Malaya in 1958 and conducted at the Health Inspectors Training Institute at Young Road, Kuala Lumpur.
Training of Health Inspectors was then shifted to the Public Health Institute, Bangsar Road, Kuala Lumpur in 1967.
The first local Degree in Environmental and Occupational Health program was pioneered by University Putra Malaysia in 1998.
In 2002 the Malaysian Association of Environmental Health was instrumental in the proposal to the Public Services Department for a change in the nomenclature of Health Inspectors to Environmental Health Officers in 2002. The Ministry of Health recommended that Diploma holders be known as Assistant Environmental Health Officers.
In 2004, the National University of Malaysia started its first program for a Bachelor of Environmental Health Degree.
The National University Malaysia introduced the first Master in Environmental Health programme in 2005.
The post of Environmental Health Officer was formally established in the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Housing and Local Government in 2005.
The University Technology MARA became the first local institution of higher learning to train Health Inspectors for a Diploma in Environmental Health in 2007
Malaysian Association of Environmental Health (MAEH)
Historical Outline
The Association of Health Inspectors Malaysia (AHIM) was registered in 1978.
AHIM was affiliated to the International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) since its inception at Bournemouth UK, on 25 September 1985.
In 1989 AHIM was registered as the Malaysian Association of Health Inspectors (MAHIR).
In 1994 MAHIR was renamed as the Malaysian Association of Environmental Health (MAEH).
Malaysia had been the Chair of the Asia and the Pacific Region between 2004 – 2006 and successfully hosted the 1st Asia and the Pacific Regional Conference on Environmental Health in 2006 with the Theme: "Towards Sustainable Management of Dengue".
MAEH representing the International Federation of Environmental Health is the national association representing the professional interests of all environmental health practitioners (EHOs or AEHO) in Malaysia whether currently employed or retired from active environmental health services in the Government or Private Sector.
Among our members are EHOs/AEHOs with at least a degree/diploma qualification in Environmental Health, or with equivalent experience.
Currently MAEH have about 500 active members working in the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Urban Well-being Housing and Local Government, various Local Authorities, Institutions of Higher Learning and the Private Sector.
MAEH had just organised and celebrated World Environmental Health Day on 26 September 2013 by organising an Environmental Health Seminar based on the years’ theme. The event was graced by the 4th Vice-President of IFEH Ungku Hj. Abu Bakar bin Abd Rahman, Dr. Pranav Joshi, President of SOCEH who is also the IFEH Asia and Pacific Regional Chairman. The seminar was attended by 450 participants from around Malaysia.
Vision
To preventively address known and anticipated Environmental Health concerns to promote our slogan “For the Well-being of Mankind” (individuals, local and global communities)
To support regional and international initiatives by incorporating proposals into the local and national agenda, for the application of effective environmental health practices and good governance.
Mission
To strive for the advancement of the environmental health profession through human resources training and development necessary for the achievement of the vision.
Objectives
1) To promote generally the objects of environmental health and the dissemination of knowledge of environmental health.
2) To represent generally the views and interest of the profession of Environmental Health Practitioners and to preserve and maintain its integrity by imposing strict rules of conduct as a condition of membership and by other means promoting just and honourable practice in such profession.
3) To promote the consideration and discussion of questions affecting the professional status of Environmental Health Practitioners.
4) To acquire any right or privilege which MAEH may regards as necessary or convenient for its purpose or for promoting the interest of the professional status of Environmental Health Practitioners.
5) To raise the character and status and to advance the interest of the Profession of Environmental Health Practitioners and those engaged therein.
6) To consider and deal with matters affecting the professional status of members of MAEH and to decide all questions of professional usage or courtesy.
7) To promote legal or other professional assistance for the protection of the interests of any member or members of the profession in cases which may be deemed to involve the questions of principle affecting the profession generally and not the individual interests of the parties litigating only.
8) To diffuse amongst its members information on all matters affecting or of importance to the profession of Environmental Health Practitioners and to print, publish, issue and circulate such papers, periodicals, books, circulars and other literary or artistic matter as may seem conductive to any of these objects.
9) To disseminate knowledge regarding practical sanitation and kindred subjects for the benefit of the community and to assist by co-operation or otherwise, similar associations in upholding and advancing the objects of Sanitary and Environmental Health matters generally.
10) To promote, contribute and to co-operate in the provision of training and education facilities for persons to become Environmental Health Practitioners and to provide all means for securing efficiency and responsibility on the part of those admitted as members.
11) In furtherance of the objects of MAEH, to establish where necessary and when practicable and to maintain Libraries, Lecture and Classrooms or other Institutions; to institute Courses of Lectures and demonstration; to hold meetings for the hearing of communications on Environmental Health subjects and discussions thereon; to hold exhibitions of sanitary objects apparatus of appliances; to practically test any such sanitary objects apparatus of appliances at such exhibitions or otherwise brought under notice of the Association.
12) To watch over any proposed legislation or Governmental action affecting the profession of Environmental Health Practitioners, to promote such legislation in the interest of the profession; to opposesuch legislation as may be found to be hostile to the profession.
Our Achievements
MAEH is currently an executive member of the International Federation of Environmental Health based in United Kingdom.
MAEH has been an executive member of the National Food Safety Council since its formation in March 2001 upon approval by the Malaysian Cabinet.
MAEH was instrumental in jointly formulating The National Food Safety Policy and Plan of Action which was approved by the Cabinet on 19 January 2003.
MAEH has been the pioneer of the Training for Trainers on Food Handler Training since 1996.
As of 31 January 2012 the Association had already trained more than 15,000 food handlers in the Kuala Lumpur City Hall area.
MAEH is also an executive member of the Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control.
MAEH is currently involved in the drafting of a comprehensive law on the prevention and control of tobacco hazards on health, safety and environmental well-being.
MAEH created history by getting the Asian Para Games (KL 2009) to be recognised as the first sports meet in Southeast Asia to be declared “Smoke-free” and recorded in the Malaysian Book of Records.
Since 2005 MAEH has been in partnership with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall other Non-governmental Organizations and the private sector in implementing Local Agenda 21 Kuala Lumpur
Contacts
1. Mr. Ai Beng HAW ( President MAEH)
2. Mr. Eng Ong TEE ( Vice-President MAEH)
3. Mr. Kong Heng WEE (Secretary MAEH)
Prepared by:
Eng Ong TEE
MALAYSIAN ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH (MAEH)
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