Jabatan Pemakanan & Dietetik
Fakulti Sains Kesihatan Bersekutu
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz
50300 Kuala Lumpur

1. To promote the professional practice of dietetics.
2. To promote the study and understanding of the science of dietetics and allied fields.
3. To encourage closer cooperation between members.
4. To promote improvement in recruiting, training and conditions of employment of dietitians.
5. To ensure that the profession is protected against persons who are untrained to practise as dietitians.

1. Ordinary membership shall be opened to all persons residing in Malaysia and possess one of the following qualifications:
   1. Diploma or Bachelor degree in Dietetics and / or Nutrition ( integrated course which include internship ) or
   2. Bachelor degree in related science with Postgraduate Diploma in Dietetics ( which is an integrated course ) or
   3. Diploma in Food Service and Nutrition with Postgraduate Certificate in Dietetics.
2. Associate Membership shall be opened to persons trained in other disciplines and interested in the aims and objects of the Association.
3. Student Membership shall be opened to person who at the time of application, is a registered student pursuing a degree as provided for under clause 4 (a) with written consent from the vice chancellor of the university. He/she shall cease to become a student member on completion or termination of the study.
4. Corporate Membership shall be opened to any locally incorporated organization involved in dietetics and allied field and interested in the aims and objects of the Association. Corporate members are entitled to nominate two representatives to the Association.
5. Associate, Student, Honorary and Corporate members of the Association shall be eligible to participate in the activities, functions and meetings except to vote at General Meetings and to hold office in the council.

1. Any member acting contrary to the good name and dignity of the Association or in consistent with its objectives may be expelled by a two-thirds majority vote of the Council. The member concerned shall however first be given an opportunity to explain his conduct and show cause why his membership should not be terminated, either in person in a Council meeting or in writing to the Council.
2. Any member whose subscription is in arrears for two years and who has been duly notified of the fact shall, if the Council sees fit, be removed from membership of the Association.

1. The annual subscription for Ordinary Members shall be RM 50.00.
2. The annual subscription for Associate Member shall be RM 40.00
3. The annual subscription for Student Members shall be RM 20.00.
4. Honorary Members shall be exempted from payment of membership fees.
5. The annual subscription for Corporate Members shall be RM 500.00.
6. All subscriptions are due on 1st January of each year and payable within one month of this date, or in the case of a new member, within one month after notification of membership.

1. An Annual General Meeting of the Association shall be held in the first quarter of the year on a date and at a time and place to be decided by the Council.
2. A preliminary notice of Annual General Meeting stating the date, the time and venue, and calling for the motions for discussion shall be sent by Honorary Secretary to all members not later than thirty days before the date fixed for the General Meeting.
3. Any member desirous of moving any resolution at the Annual General Meeting shall give notice in writing thereof to the Honorary Secretary not less than twenty days before the date of such meeting.
4. The Honorary Secretary shall send to all members at least fourteen days before the General Meeting, the agenda to be transacted, including copies of minutes and reports, any resolution which members have indicated their intention of proposing as provided under clause 8 (c) as well as audited accounts for the previous year.
5. At least one half of total membership or twice the number of Council Members, which ever is lesser, must be present at an Annual General Meeting to constitute a quorum for its proceedings to be valid.
6. If half an hour after the time appointed for Annual General Meeting, a quorum is not present, those members present shall have to proceed with the business of the day, but they shall not have the power to alter the rules of the Association.
7. The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be:
   1. to receive the Council’s report on the activities of the Association during the previous year.
   2. to receive the Honorary Treasurer’s report and the audited accounts of the Association for the previous year.
   3. on alternate years, to elect the relevant Council members and to appoint two Honorary Auditors.
   4. to deal with other matters as spelt out in the agenda.

1. An extra-ordinary General Meeting of the Association shall be convened at the discretion of the Council, or by joint request in writing of not less than one-fifth of the Ordinary Members stating the objects and reasons for such a meeting. An Extra-ordinary General Meeting requisitioned by members shall be convened within thirty days from the date of receipt of such requisition.
2. Notice and agenda for an Extra-ordinary General Meeting shall be forwarded by the Honorary Secretary to all members at least fourteen days before date fixed for the meeting. The agenda shall be specific and no matter shall be discussed.
3. The quorum shall be the same as that for the Annual General Meeting.
4. In the event of lack of quorum half an hour after the time appointed for an Extra-ordinary General Meeting called by the Council, the procedure as given in clause 8 (g) shall apply. If no quorum is present half an hour from the time fixed for an Extra-ordinary General Meeting requisitioned by members, the meeting shall be declared cancelled and no Extra-ordinary General Meeting shall be requisitioned for the same purpose until the lapse of at least six months from the date thereof.

1. The Council shall consist of :
   A President
   A Vice President
   An Honorary Secretary
   An Honorary Assistant Secretary
   An Honorary Treasurer
   Four Ordinary Council Members
2. The office bearers of the Association and every officer performing executive functions in the Association shall be Malaysian citizens.
3. The function of the Council is to organise and supervise the activities of the Association and to make decisions on matter affecting its running within the framework of the Rules. It shall furnish an annual report, including an audited statement of accounts, at each Annual General Meeting on its activities during the previous year.
4. Any vacancy arising between elections shall be filled by appointment of the Council.
5. The Council shall, if and when necessary, appoint paid staff to assist in the execution of its duties and activities.
6. The Council may co-opt members to serve in ad-hoc committees whenever necessary.
7. The Council shall meet at least once every three months. At least seven days’ notice shall be given for all Council meetings. All decision made at these meetings shall be by a majority vote.
8. The President, acting alone, or three of its Council members acting together, may call for a Council meeting to be held at any time. At least one half of the Council members must be present to constitute a quorum for its proceedings to be valid.
9. In the intervals between Council meetings where any urgent matter requiring the approval of the Council arises, the Honorary Secretary shall circulate the information among Council Members to enable a decision to be made from replies of at least six Council members. Any decisions arrived at, which should be by a majority vote, shall be tabled by the Honorary Secretary at the ensuing Council meeting and recorded in the minutes thereof.
10. Any member of the Council who fails to attend three consecutive Council meetings without prior notification giving satisfactory reasons shall be liable to have his / her term of office terminated.

1. The Council of the Association shall be elected biennially at an Annual General Meeting to hold office for a period of two consecutive years.
2. The Council is to call for nominations in writing with a proposer, seconder and the consent of the nominee, forty–five (45) days before the election.
3. The Council shall submit the list of nominations and ballot papers approved by the Council to voting members at least fourteen (14) days before the election date.
4. Voting members shall mark on the ballot papers nine (9) candidates to be elected into the Council, and submit them before the election day, which as to be specified in clause 11 (a), shall coincide with an Annual General Meeting.
5. The nine (9) candidates receiving the highest votes shall be considered elected as Council members.
6. The various officer – bearers of the Association shall be elected from the nine (9) Council Members by members present by secret balloting or show of hands at the discretion of the Council.
7. In the case that the Past President has not been elected as a Council Member, the Past President will remain in the Council for at least one term (two consecutive years). If the Past president is not in a position to take up the post, the past vice-president will automatically fill the position in order to provide continuity.

1. The President shall preside at all General and Council Meetings of the Association. He/she shall have the casting vote and shall sign the minutes of each meeting at the times they were approved.
2. The Vice President shall assume all duties, powers and responsibilities of the President in the absence of the latter.
3. The Honorary Secretary shall conduct all correspondence and keep all books of the Association, including a membership register, document and papers except the accounts and financial reports. He/she shall prepare an annual report of the Association’s activities for presentation at the Annual General Meeting. He/she shall be in consultation with the President, be responsible for calling all Council and General Meeting. He/she shall record the proceedings of all meetings and circulate copies of the minutes of these meetings to the Council Members within fourteen days. Within twenty-eight days after holding of an Annual General Meeting, he/she shall submit the annual returns of the Association to the Registrar of Societies as required under section 14(1) of the Societies Act, 1996.
4. The Honorary Assistant Secretary shall assist the Honorary Secretary in all the latter’s duties. In the absence of the Honorary Secretary, the Honorary Assistant Secretary shall deputies for him/her and assume his/her responsibilities.
5. The Honorary Treasurer shall keep the account of the Association. He/she shall collect all subscriptions or other income of the Association and issues receipts for all monies received, disburse monies as approved by the Council and table the statement of accounts for information of Council Members at Council meetings. At the end of the financial year, he/she shall prepare an annual balance sheet and statement of accounts to be audited by the Honorary auditors for presentation at the succeeding General Meeting.
6. The Ordinary Council Members shall assist the other Council Members to ensure smooth functioning of the Association and may from time to time be assigned specific duties by the Council.

1. The Association may from time to time receive donations from well-wishers either for specific or general purposes.
2. Subject to the following provisions in the Constitution, the funds of the Association may be expended for any purpose necessary for the carrying out of its objects, including administrative expenses, payment of salaries to paid staff, and expenses for scientific talks and seminars.
3. Honorary Treasurer may hold a petty cash advance not exceeding, RM 500.00 at any one time. All monies in excess of RM 500.00 shall be within seven days of receipt deposited in a bank approved by the Council. The bank account shall be in the name of the Association.
4. All cheques or withdrawal notices on the Association’s account shall be jointly signed by the President and the Honorary Treasurer or in the absence of either of them, the Honorary Secretary.
5. The President, the Vice President, the Honorary Secretary or the Honorary Treasurer may incur expenditure and settle accounts on behalf of the Association at their discretion up to a sum of reimbursement for such expenditure at ensuing Council Meeting.
6. No expenditure exceeding RM 300.00 at any one time shall be incurred without the prior sanction of the Council, and no expenditure exceeding RM 300.00 in any one month shall be incurred without the prior sanction of a General Meeting. Expenditure of less than RM 300.00 may be approved by the President and the Honorary Secretary or Honorary Treasurer of the Association.
7. As soon as possible after the end of each financial year, a statement of receipts and payment and a balance sheet for the year shall be prepared and audited by the approved Honorary Auditors. The audited accounts shall be submitted for approval at the next General Meeting, copies of which shall have been circulated to all members prior to the meeting.
8. The date of commencement of the financial year of the Association shall be from the 1st of April and shall end on the 31st of March annually.
   

1. Two Honorary Auditors, who shall not be members of the Council, shall be elected at the General Meeting to hold office for a period of two consecutive years.
2. The Honorary Auditors shall be required to audit the yearly account of the Association, and to certify the statement of account prepared by the Honorary Treasurer for the next General Meeting. They may also be required by the Council to audit accounts for the Association for any period within their term of office and to make a report to the Council.

1. The rules of the Association may not be altered or amended except by resolution of an Annual General Meeting or Extra-ordinary General Meeting.
2. All proposed amendments to the Rules of the Association shall be circulated to all members together with the notice of the General Meeting. The amendments can only be effective if passed by at least two-thirds of the voting members present at a General Meeting.
3. Such alterations or amendments made to the Rules shall take effect upon approval by the Registrar of Societies.

1. Neither the Association nor its members shall attempt to restrict or in any other manner interfere with the trade or prices or engage in any trade union activities as defined in the Trade Union Act, 1959.
2. The Association shall not hold any lottery whether confined to its members or not, in the name of the Association or its Council members, committee or members.

1. The Association may be voluntarily dissolved by a resolution of not less than two-thirds of the total Ordinary Members.
2. In the event of the Association being dissolved as provided above, all debts and liabilities legally incurred on its behalf shall be fully discharged, and the remaining funds shall be disposed of in such manner as may be decided upon in a General Meeting.
3. Notice of the resolution shall be given within fourteen days of the dissolution to the Registrar of Societies.

1. On a yearly basis, an amount as deemed fit by the Council, may be set aside as a grant extended for attendance to seminars and conferences.
2. Only Ordinary Members who have paid up all membership subscriptions up-to-date shall be eligible to apply for the grant.
3. Priority will be given to an applicant whose paper is accepted for oral or poster presentation at the seminar or conference or the applicant has been invited to participate in the seminar or conference as a speaker.
4. Each applicant may be awarded up to a maximum of Ringgit Five Hundred ( RM 500.00 ) for each seminar or conference.
5. A successful applicant shall not be considered for more than one grant each year. A grant shall not be given to a member who has benefited from the grant in the previous three ( 3 ) years.
6. All applicants for the grant shall be made in prescribed forms approved by the Council, and submitted together with an abstract of the paper to be presented or a letter of invitation as a speaker.
7. Application shall be received by the Honorary Secretary at least two months before the date of the seminar or conference to be deliberated by the Council.
8. An Education Fund shall be established and shall be termed the ‘Malaysian Dietitians’ Association Education Fund’, with the Bye - laws of the Education Fund as in Appendix 1.
   

Appendix 1