Dear Esteemed Friends and Colleagues,
Greetings!! Wishing all a safe and healthy 2021!!
MJPCH update
Our Malaysian Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health (MJPCH) has gained recognition from indexing agencies, and is now indexed in Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA), MyJournal and Google Scholar.
The journal is currently in the process of obtaining indexing in MyCite and a Digital Object Identifier (doi) number. On behalf of MPA, I would like to extend our gratitude and appreciation to Professor Dr Zilfalil Alwi, his team in USM and all the members of the editorial board for your commitment, contributions, and sacrifices. Thanks also to all who have submitted your manuscripts for publication. I urge all members to continue to submit your manuscripts to MJPCH in order to ensure the continued success of the journal.
On another note, I would like to thank Datuk Dr Zulkifli Ismail for successfully obtaining approval from Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia to make MPA a publisher with an International Standard Book Number (ISBN). MPA Publisher’s number is ISBN 978-983-99049.
From now on, MPA can publish books in the future using the above publisher’s number to apply for book number and barcode. With this provision, Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia requires MPA to submit five copies of the book to them within one month after the date of publication.
Research grants
Most of paediatric practices are relatively quiet during this pandemic. Research, audit and manuscript writing may be alternatives. MPA provides the Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali Research Award and the MPF Mohd Sham Kasim Research Award to eligible members. Members can email the relevant documents to the MPA secretariat. You may log-on to the MPA website for information, updates and flyers.
Malaysia welcomed 2021 in the midst of the carnage of a raging third wave of COVID-19 pandemic in our country. With the arrival of Covid-19 vaccines to Malaysia soon, I pray that the vaccine rollout is smooth and uneventful. If all of us with no contraindications receive the vaccine, wear mask, practice physical distancing, and follow SOPs, we can at least be cautiously optimistic that the numbers of COVID-19 infection will be reduced, and life can go on near to the new normal with less movement control orders.
Most MPA meetings and CME activities remain virtual for the moment. The next MPA annual congress would be the Asia
Pacific Paediatric Endocrine Society (APPES) Congress in conjunction with the 43rd MPA AGM at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, postponed from year 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tentatively it would be a hybrid meeting to be held on 25-28 November 2021. We hope to see most of you there and we can catch up!
Thank you.
Stay Safe, Vigilant and Resilient!
Hung Liang Choo
President 2019–2021
