CONSTITUTION OF PERSATUAN PENGKAJIAN KESAKITAN MALAYSIA
(MALAYSIAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF PAIN)
 

1. NAME AND PLACE OF BUSINESS

1. The Society shall be known as the Persatuan Pengkajian Kesakit_n 'Malaysia. ( Malaysian Association for the Study of Pain).
    
2. Its registered place of business shall be Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital, 59100.KUALA LUMPUR.
   or at such other place or places as may from time to time be decided on by the Committee.
   The registered place of business shall not be changed without the prior approval of the Registrar of Societies.
    

2. OBJECTIVES

1. To promote education and training in the field of pain.
    
2. To promote and facilitate the dissemination of new information in the field of pain.
    
3. To achieve liaison with similar bodies and other specialists in other regions.
    
4. To advise national agencies on standards relating to the use of drugs, appliances and other procedures relating to pain relief.
    
5. To encourage and promote friendship among members of the society.
    

3. MEMBERSHIP

1. Membership of the society shall be divided as follows:
   1. Regular membership: shall be open to registered medical practioners and paramedical health care professionals like nurses, physiotherapists and laboratory technicians who are interested in the field of pain residing in Malaysia.
   2. Associate membership: shall be open to paramedical health care professionals like nurses, physiotherapists and laboratory technicians who are interested in the field of pain.
   3. Contributing membership: Persons of at least 18 years of age, residing in Malaysia or legally constituted organisations, who are interested in furthering the purposes of the society and who are not eligible for election as regular members of the society may apply for contributing membership in the society.
   4. Life membership: Regular members can become life members by paying the life membership fees.
       
2. Every application for membership shall be proposed and seconded by two existing members and shall be forwarded to the Secretary who shall at the first convenient opportunity, submit it to the Committee for approval. The Committee may at its discretion reject any application without assigning any reason therfor.
    
3. Every applicant whose application has been approved as aforesaid shall, upon payment of the prescribed first monthly subscription, be admitted as a member of the Society and shall be entitled to all the privileges of membership.
    
4. Only regular members are eligible to vote and to hold office in the society.
    

4. SUBSCRIPTIONS AND OTHER DUES

1. The annual subscription payable shall be as follows:
    

   Regular members	RM50.00
   Life membership	RM300.00

    

2. All annual subscriptions shall be payable to the treasurer within one month of the beginning of the financial year.
    
3. Any member who allows his arrears to exceed three years subscriptions shall receive a written notification. signed or on behalf of the Secretary and shall be denied the privileges of membership.
    
4. The committee shall have the power to fix are-entrance fee for any person who has allowed his membership to lapse through arrears.
    
5. Special subscriptions or levies for particular purpose may be raised from members by resolution of the general meeting of the society. If any member fails to pay such subscription within such period as may be resolved, the amount due shall be treated in the same way as arrears of monthly subscription.
    

5. RESIGNATION

Any member who wishes to resign from the society shall give two weeks notice in writing to the Secretary.
 

6. GENERAL MEETING

1. The supreme authority of the Society is vested in a general meeting of the members. At least one-half of the total voting membership of the society or the voting members present represent twice the total number of committee members, whichever is the lesser, must be present at a general meeting for its proceedings to be valid and to constitute a quorum.
    
2. If half an hour after the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting shall be postponed to a date (not exceeding 30 days) to be decided by the committee; and if a quorum is not present half an hour after the time appointed for the postponed meeting, the members present shall have the power to proceed with the business of the day but they shall not have power to alter the rules of the society or make decisions affecting the whole membership.
    
3. An annual general meeting of the Society shall be held as soon as possible after the close of each financial year, but in any case, not later than April, on a date and at a time and place to be decided by the committee. The business of the annual general meeting shall be:
   
   a) To receive the Committee's report on the working of the society during the previous year;
   
   b) To receive the Treasurer's report and the audited accounts of the society for the previous year;
   
   c) To elect a Committee and to appoint auditor once every two years;
   
   d) To deal with such other matters as may be put before it.
    
4. The Secretary shall send to all members at least 14 days before the meeting an agenda including copies of minutes and reports, together with the audited accounts of the Society for the previous year. Copies of these documents will also be made available at the registered place of business of the Society for the perusal of members.
    
5. An extraordinary general meeting of the Society shall be convened:
   
   a) Whenever the committee deems it desirable; or
   
   b) At the joint request in writing of not less than twenty members. stating the objects and reasons for such a meeting.
    
6. An extraordinary general meeting requisitioned by members shall be convened for a date within thirty days of the receipt of such a requisition.
    
7. Notice and agenda for an extraordinary general meeting shall be forwarded by the Secretary, to all members at least fifteen days before the date fixed for the meeting.
    
8. Paragraphs (1) and (2) of this rules regarding the quorum and postponement of an annual general meeting shall apply also to an extraordinary general meeting, but with the proviso that if no quorum is present after half an hour from the time appointed for a postponed extraordinary general meeting requisitioned by members the meeting shall be cancelled, and no extraordinary general meeting shall be requisitioned for the same purpose until after the lapse of at least six months from the date thereof.
    
9. The secretary shall forward to all members a copy of the draft minutes of each annual and extraordinary general meeting as soon as possible after its conclusion.
    

7. COMMITTEE

1. A Committee consisting of the following, who shall be termed the office-bearers of the society, shall be elected at the annual general meeting:-     
         A President
         A Secretary
         A Treasurer
         4 ordinary committee members
   
   All office -bearers of the society and every officer performing executive functions in the society shall be Malaysian citizens
    
2. a) Names for the above offices shall be proposed and seconded and election will be by a simple majority vote of the members at the annual general meeting. All the office bearers shall be eligible for re-election each term, save for the Treasurer, who will not be eligible for re-election in the same capacity after holding office for 2 consecutive terms.
   
   b) The Executive Committee shall have the power to co-opt not more than 2 members of the society to serve on the Executive Committee. Such appointed members shall serve for one term.
    
3. The function of the Committee is to organise and supervise the day-to -day activities of the Society and to make decisions on matters affecting its running within the general policy laid down by the general meeting. The Committee may not act contrary to the expressed wishes of the general meeting without the prior reference to it and shall always remain subordinate to the general meeting. It shall furnish a report to each annual general meeting on its activities during the previous year.
    
4. The committee shall meet at least once every three months, and 7 days notice of each meeting shall be given to the members. The President acting alone, or not less than three of its members acting together may call for a meeting of the Committee to be held at any time. At least one half of the Committee members must be present for its proceedings to be valid and to constitute a quorum.
    
5. Where any urgent matter requiring the approval of the Committee arises and it is not possible to convene a meeting, the Secretary may obtain such approval by means of a circular letter. The following conditions must be fulfilled before a decision of the Committee is deemed to have been obtained:-
   
   a) The issue must be clearly set out in the circular and forwarded to All members of the Committee;
   
   b) At least one-half of the members of the Committee must indicate whether they are in favour or against the proposal; and
   
   c) The decision must be by majority vote.
   
   Any decision obtained by circular letter shall be reported by the Secretary to the next Committee meeting and recorded in the minutes therof.
    
6. Any member of the Committee who fails to attend three consecutive meetings of the committee without satisfactory explanation shall be deemed to have resigned from the committee.
    
7. In the event of the death or resignation of a member of the committee the candidate who received the next highest number of votes at the previous election for the post' affected shall be invited to fill the vacancy. If there is no such candidate or if such a candidate declined to accept office, the Committee shall have the power to co-opt any other member of, he Society to fill the vacancy until I the next annual general meeting.
    
8. The Committee shall give instructions to the Secretary and other officers for the conduct of the affairs of the Society. It may appoint such organisers and such staff as it deems necessary. It may suspend or dismiss any organiser or member of the staff for neglect of duty, dishonesty, incompetence, refusal to carry out the decisions of the Committee, or for any other reason which it deems good and sufficient in the interest of the Society.
    
9. Between annual general meetings the Committee shall interpret the rules of the Society and, when necessary, determine any point on which the rules are silent.
    
10. Except where they are contrary to or inconsistent with the policy previously laid down by the general meeting the decisions of the committee shall be binding on all members of the Society unless and until countermanded boy a resolution of a general meeting.

8. DUTIES OF OFFICE-BEARERS

1. President:
   
   a) Shall preside at all business meetings of the society.
   
   b) In the event of absence of the President, the Committee shall elect one committee member to preside at the meeting.
   
   c) Shall be responsible for executing policies determined by the executive committee and shall act a spokesmen for the society.
    
2. Secretary:
   
   a) Shall be responsible for the management of the society.
   
   b) Shall keep a Register of Members.
   
   c) Shall convene all meetings of the Society.
   
   d) Shall be responsible for preparing the Annual General Meeting of the Society.
   
   e) Shall correspond with the Secretariat of the IASP in Seattle, Washington, USA. and keep IASP informed about the activities of the society.
   IN addition the secretary shall send a copy of the Annual Report to IASP.
   
   f) Shall keep minutes of all the business meetings of the Society.
    
3. Treasurer:
   
   a) Shall keep an account of all business transactions by the society.
   
   b) Shall collect Annual subscriptions from members.
   
   c) Shall sign all cheques which have to be countersigned by the president.
   
   d) Shall prepare the Audited statements of Accounts which shall be circulated to members two weeks before the Annual General Meeting.
    
4. Ordinary Committee Members:
   
   Shall generally assist in the management of the society.
    
5. The term of office of the Executive committee shall be for a period of two years.

9. FINANCIAL PROVISIONS

1. Subject to the following provisions in these rules, the funds of the Society may be expended for any purpose necessary for the carrying out of its objectives, including the expenses to its office-bearers and paid staff, and the audit of its accounts, but they shall on no account be used to pay the fine of any member who may be convicted in a court of law.
    
2. The Treasurer may hold a petty cash exceeding RM1000.00 at anyone time. of this sum shall within seven days deposited in a bank approved by the account shall be in the name of the advance not All money in excess of receipt be committee. The bank Society.
    
3. All cheques or withdrawal notices on the Society's account shall be signed jointly by the President ( or in his absence the Secretary) and the Treasurer. 
    
4. No expenditure exceeding RM1000.00 at anyone time shall be incurred without the prior sanction of the committee, and no expenditure exceeding RM50,000.00 in anyone month shall be incurred without the prior sanction of a general meeting. Expenditure less the RM1000.00 may be incurred by the President together with the Secretary or the Treasurer.
    
5. As soon as possible after the end of each financial year i.e. 31st December. a statement of receipts and payments and a balance sheet for the year shall be prepared and audited by the auditors appointed under rule 10. The audited accounts shall be submitted for the approval of the next annual general meeting. and copies shall be made available at the registered place of business of the Society for the perusal of members.
    

10. AUDIT

1. Two persons, who shall not be office-bearers of the Society, shall be appointed by the annual general meeting as Honorary Auditors. They shall hold office for one term only and shall not be reappointed.
    
2. The Auditors shall be required to audit the accounts of the Society for the year, and to prepare a report or certificate for the annual general meeting. They may also be required by the president to audit the accounts of the Society for any period within their tenure of office at any date, and to make a report to the Committee.
    

11. TRUSTEES

1. Three Trustees, who must be over 21 years of age, shall be appointed at the annual general meeting and shall hold office during the pleasure of the Society. They shall have vested in them all immovable property whatsoever belonging to the Society upon execution of a Deed of Trust.
    
2. The Trustees shall not sell, withdraw or transfer any of the property of the Society without the consent and authority of a general meeting of members.
    
3. A Trustee may be removed from office by the general meeting on the grounds that, owing to ill health, unsoundness of mind, absence from the country or for any other reason, he is unable to perform his duties or unable to do so satisfactorily. In the event of the death or
   resignation or removal of a Trustee, the vacancy shall be fulfilled by a new Trustee appointed by a general meeting.
    

12. PROHIBITIONS

1. Opium smoking on the premises and the introduction of prostitutes and bad characters into the premises are strictly prohibited.
    
2. None of the following names shall be played in the premises of the society: Roulette, Lotto, Fan Tan, Poh, Peh Bin, Belangkai, Pai Kau, Tau Ngau, Tien Kow, Chap Ji Kee, Sam Cheong, Twenty-one, Thirty-one, Ten and a Half, all games of dice video games, bankers' games and all games of mere chance.
    
3. Neither the society 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 Ordinance, 1959.
    
4. The society shall not hold any lottery, whether confined to its members or not, in the name of the Society or its office-bearers, Committee or member.
    

13. AMENDMENTS OF RULES

These Rules may not be altered or amended except by resolution of a general meeting. Such alterations of amendments shall take effect from the date of their approval by the Registrar of Societies. Any amendment to the rules shall be forwarded to the Registrar of societies within 28 days of being passed by the general meeting.
 

14. DISSOLUTION

1. The Society may be voluntarily dissolved by a resolution of not less than three-fifths of the total membership,
    
2. In the event of the Society 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 by a general meeting.
    
3. Notice of dissolution shall be forwarded to the Registrar of Societies within 14 days of its dissolution.