Professor Dr Syahrul Sazliyana Shaharir is a Consultant Rheumatologist and Associate Professor at UKM Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur. She obtained her MD with distinction from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in 2004, followed by MRCP (UK), a Master’s in Internal Medicine (UKM), and a Rheumatology Fellowship. She also completed research training at Birmingham University, UK.

Dr Syahrul has over 10 years of academic and clinical experience and is actively involved in postgraduate supervision, curriculum development, and internal medicine education. Her research focuses primarily on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with leadership in multiple national grants and involvement in international lupus trials. She has published extensively, with over 30 peer-reviewed articles and a chapter in an international textbook on SLE.

She is the current President of Persatuan SLE Malaysia and the Vice President of the Malaysian Society of Rheumatology. Recognized for her academic and research contributions, she received the UKM Excellent Service Award and Best Abstract at the 2017 APLAR Congress.

Dr Shereen Ch’ng Suyin is a Consultant Rheumatologist and Physician at the Department of Medicine at Selayang Hospital in Selangor, Malaysia.

Dr Ch’ng was awarded her MBBS from the University of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. She subsequently completed her housemanship at Sultanah Fatimah Specialist Hospital in Johor, Malaysia, where she was later appointed Clinical Specialist in General Medicine. Concurrently, Dr Ch’ng also held the post of clinical lecturer of Melaka-Manipal Medical College. In 2010, she undertook an attachment at Royal Perth Hospital, Western Australia having obtained a scholarship from the Malaysian Ministry of Health and the APLAR 2011 Fellowship. After completing her fellowship training in rheumatology at Selayang Hospital and at Royal Perth Hospital she returned to Selayang Hospital to assume her current positions.

Her interests include systemic sclerosis, musculoskeletal ultrasound and young adult patients. Dr Ch’ng coordinates active clinical research programs centered on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is actively involved with the National Inflammatory Arthritis Registry. She has been the principal and sub-investigator for a number of international studies for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and systemic sclerosis. Dr Ch’ng has had her work published in conference proceedings, and has presented in a wide variety of professional seminars and short courses on topics related to rheumatology. 

Dr. Mollyza Mohd Zain is a distinguished senior consultant rheumatologist and internal medicine physician at Hospital Selayang, Selangor. She is the National Head of Rheumatology Clinical Service at Hospital Selayang.

With decades of experience, she plays a pivotal role in Malaysia’s rheumatology leadership through her service in clinics, guideline development, research, and educational initiatives. Her expertise spans a wide range of autoimmune and musculoskeletal disorders. National Head of Rheumatology Clinical Service at Hospital Selayang

Professor Dr Sargunan Sockalingam is a Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

After obtaining his MBBS from the Manipal Academy of Higher Education in Karnataka, India, Dr. Sargunan served as a medical officer at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. He went on to receive his specialty training in Internal Medicine at UMMC. He remained at UMMC to teach Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, before completing his fellowship at St George Hospital, University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. Since then, Dr. Sargunan has dedicated his career toward leading the Rheumatology unit of UMMC as the premier University clinical, research and rheumatology training center in Malaysia.

Besides clinical work, Dr. Sargunan’s main interest is in teaching and guiding aspiring medical professionals to reach their full potential as accomplished physicians through informative and engaging lectures. Dr. Sargunan has published a number of articles in peer reviewed journals, in addition to being an associate editor for the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases. He is also a member of the Asia Pacific Lupus Collaboration.

And finally he is working on establishing a real time registry of Rheumatology cases in UMMC. The first phase of this data has been published in the latest EULAR 2018 abstract collection. His other interests are music, travel photography and poetry. 

Dr Fariz bin Yahya is a Consultant Rheumatologist and Internal Medicine Physician at University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, and a Senior Lecturer at the University of Malaya. He holds an MB BCh BAO from Queen’s University Belfast and a Master’s in Internal Medicine from the University of Malaya. He completed his Rheumatology subspecialty training in 2016 and an international fellowship at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, UK.

Dr Fariz has a special interest in axial spondyloarthritis and has contributed to international research collaborations, including with BritSpA. He is actively involved in clinical trials, academic teaching, and rheumatology research. He has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications and has presented at international conferences such as EULAR, BSR, and APLAR.

He has served in various leadership and advisory roles, including Deputy Treasurer of the Malaysian Society of Rheumatology and project lead for its website revamp. He has also been featured in national media for public health advocacy and frequently invited as a speaker at both national and international scientific meetings.

Professor Dr Raja Jasmin is a consultant rheumatologist and the head of Rheumatology at Universiti Malaya & University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She obtained her advanced subspecialty training in Rheumatology from the Royal Free Hospital, London focusing on scleroderma under the supervision of Professor Chris Denton.

Her research work on scleroderma, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis were presented in various international conferences and published in ISI-indexed peer reviewed journals. Dr Raja Jasmin is actively involved as principal investigator in rheumatology specifically Scleroderma clinical trials.

She was a committee member of Malaysian Society of Rheumatology (MSR) and also has various appointed positions in the Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR) including scientific committee member and co-convenor of scleroderma special interest group.

Dr Koay Beng Siang is a dedicated Paediatric Rheumatologist based at Penang General Hospital, Malaysia. A graduate of Universiti Sains Malaysia (2005), he has served over 20 years in the Ministry of Health. Driven by a deep commitment to paediatric care, he obtained his MRCPCH (UK) in 2012 and later specialized in paediatric rheumatology under the mentorship of Dr Tang Swee Ping and Dr Thachawee Arkaichasri. In 2017, he became a consultant and served at Selayang Hospital before establishing the Paediatric Rheumatology Unit in Penang General Hospital in 2023.

Dr Koay is actively involved in training junior doctors and subspecialty fellows. He frequently conducts lectures, workshops, and exams in collaboration with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. He has also spoken at national conferences such as the 2018 Paediatric Rheumatology Symposium and PReS KL 2021. He is a member of the Malaysian Society of Rheumatology and serves on the Malaysian Medical Council’s evaluation subcommittee.

Passionate about improving care for underserved populations, Dr Koay engages in humanitarian work, charity collaborations, and rural medical camps. His research spans lupus nephritis and childhood arthritis, contributing to publications that enhance paediatric rheumatology understanding and practice.

Professor Dr Ida Hilmi is a Professor and Senior Consultant in Gastroenterology at the University of Malaya, Malaysia. A first-class graduate from the University of Glasgow, she completed specialist training in the UK before returning to Malaysia in 2003.

She chairs the National Hepatology and Gastroenterology Training Committee and is President-Elect of the Malaysian Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Prof Hilmi’s key interests include inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colorectal cancer screening.

She is involved in global advisory boards, regional training initiatives, and the Rebung project for cancer awareness, and currently serves as Associate Editor for JGH Open.

Dr Teh Cheng Lay is currently the Head of Rheumatology unit at Sarawak General Hospital in Kuching. She graduated from University Kebangsaan Malaysia with MD (Honours) and subsequently obtained MRCP (UK). She completed her Rheumatology subspeciality trainings in Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore and Royal Perth Hospital, Australia. She is active in clinical research in Rheumatology including clinical trials and self-initiated clinical studies. She has extensive experiences as a Principal investigator in numerous Rheumatology clinical trials ranging from Phase 3 to First-in-Human studies. Her research papers have been published in various peer reviewed journals.

Dr Ainon Mokhtar is a Consultant Physician and Rheumatologist with extensive clinical experience in general medicine and rheumatology. She graduated with an MBBS from the University of Malaya (1995), obtained her MRCP (UK) in 2002, and completed her Fellowship in Rheumatology in 2007. She has a special interest in musculoskeletal ultrasound since 2008 and was among the first Malaysian Targeted Ultrasound Initiative (TUI) ambassadors in 2012.

Currently, she serves as the Chairman of TUI (since 2023) and actively promotes musculoskeletal ultrasound training for rheumatologists across Malaysia. Dr. Ainon is also an Executive Committee member of the Arthritis Foundation Malaysia (AFM) and contributes regularly as a speaker, trainer, and facilitator at MSR and AFM events.

Dr Anwar SM Arshad currently is the Consultant Rheumatologist and Interventional Pain Physician in Pantai Hospital Laguna Merbuk, Kedah. He`s also a Professor of Medicine with AIMST University. He received his basic medical degree from University of Malaya subsequenyly pursued

MSc in Rheumatology from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom. He obtained MRCP in 1997 then completed higher Internal Medicine/Rheumatology training in Scotland in 2001. Dr Anwar Samhari Arshad is currently a Fellow of American College of Rheumatology, Fellow American College of Physician, Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and Fellow of the Royal College of Physician of London.

Having trained in MSK Ultrasound since 1999, he pioneered MSK US education for Malaysian Society of Rheumatology since 2005 and involved heavily in designing curriculum for the young rheumatologist in Malaysia. He completed EULAR `Teach the Teacher` certificate in 2012. He was the first Malaysian doctor to pass the FIPP in 2008 and CIPS in 2015 conferred by World Institute of Pain Medicine. Dr Anwar was instrumental to steer further the MSK Ultrasound education and currently he is the National Advisor for the Malaysian TUI group.

He served as a Chair of MSK Ultrasound in Rheumatology for Asia-Pacific Society of Rheumatolgy(APLAR) from 2016-2018. 

Dr Hairul Hadi Ariff is a Consultant Physician and Rheumatologist, currently serving as the Head of the Rheumatology Unit at Hospital Queen Elizabeth, Kota Kinabalu. He obtained his MBBS (2005) and Master in Internal Medicine (2014) from the University of Malaya. He completed his Rheumatology training at Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah and Hospital Putrajaya before undergoing a fellowship at the University of Oxford, specializing in ultrasound diagnostics for large-vessel vasculitis.

With a strong passion for research, he has received multiple awards, including the Dr Wu Lien-Teh Best Poster Award. He is actively involved in clinical practice, education, and research, contributing to advancements in rheumatology. Since 2020, he has also been the Rheumatology Subspecialty Coordinator for Sabah. His expertise includes musculoskeletal ultrasound, vasculitis, and autoimmune diseases, and he continues to play a key role in the development of rheumatology services in Malaysia. 

Dr Ng Chun Ruh is a Consultant Rheumatologist currently serving at Hospital Muar, Johor, Malaysia. She obtained her medical degree (MD) from the National University of Malaysia (UKM) in 2008 and subsequently earned the Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom (MRCP UK) in 2014. She completed her Rheumatology Fellowship training in Malaysia and Ireland in 2020.

Dr Ng has substantial clinical experience in internal medicine and rheumatology, having served as a Medical Specialist and later Rheumatologist at Hospital Sultan Ismail, Johor from 2014 to 2022, before moving to her current role at Hospital Muar. She is certified in Good Clinical Practice (GCP Malaysia and ICH GCP 2019) and has participated in clinical trials, although specific trials were not listed in the CV.

Her professional focus is on delivering specialized care for patients with rheumatological conditions in both tertiary and district hospital settings, contributing to the advancement of rheumatology services in southern Malaysia.

Dr Benjamin Sachdev Manjit Singh is a Rheumatologist and Internal Medicine Physician at Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II, Kota Bahru, Kelantan, Malaysia. He graduated with an MBBS from Monash University in 2010 and completed his MRCP (UK) in 2016. He specialised in Rheumatology through training at Sarawak General Hospital, followed by a Clinical Fellowship at Singapore General Hospital, completing his training in 2023. He holds a Speciality Certificate in Rheumatology (2023) and also a Master of Science (MSc) in Rheumatology from the University of South Wales (2024). 

Dr Benjamin's clinical interests include lupus, inflammatory myopathies, Interstitial Lung disease, and vasculitis. He is an active educator, mentoring physician trainees and has contributed to numerous peer-reviewed publications. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (Edinburgh) and is a member of the Academy of Medicine Malaysia. He is also a committee member of the Malaysian Society of Rheumatology and Malaysian Young Rheumatologists, actively contributing to training and development in the field.

Dr Malehah Mohd Noh is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah. She completed her MBBS and Advanced Diploma in Medical Sciences at the International Medical University and later obtained her Master of Internal Medicine (MMed) from University Malaya. She pursued subspecialty training in Rheumatology at Hospital Putrajaya, HUKM, and Hospital Tuanku Ja’afar Seremban.

Dr Malehah has extensive clinical experience in general medicine and rheumatology, providing both inpatient and outpatient services across multiple major hospitals in Malaysia. Her research interests include rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and systemic sclerosis, with several completed clinical studies and poster presentations at national and international meetings. She has published reviews and clinical research papers and has contributed to clinical trials involving biologics in rheumatology.

An active educator, Dr Malehah teaches medical undergraduates from Universiti Malaysia Sabah and CUCMS, and regularly presents at conferences and public health awareness events. She has also contributed to musculoskeletal ultrasound education through various workshops. Passionate about advancing rheumatology care, she actively participates in community outreach programs for arthritis and lupus awareness.

Dr Juliana Fairuz Maktar is a Consultant Radiologist and Clinical Lecturer at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). She graduated with a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from the Russian State Medical University and later completed her postgraduate Radiology training at UKM. She has pursued additional clinical fellowships in Musculoskeletal Radiology at UKM and Hacettepe University, Turkey, and completed the Aesculap Academy Daradia Fellowship in Pain Management.

Dr Juliana currently heads the MRI Unit at her institution and actively contributes to both undergraduate and postgraduate education. Her clinical interests focus on musculoskeletal imaging, pain management, and ultrasound-guided procedures. She is involved in multiple ongoing research projects and has published in journals such as the Saudi Journal of Gastroenterology and Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

An experienced speaker and organizer, she frequently conducts workshops, particularly on musculoskeletal imaging and radiology education, and plays key roles in national radiology and orthopaedic conferences. She was awarded the Anugerah Perkhidmatan Cemerlang (Excellence Service Award) in 2023.

Dr Ramani Arumugam is a Consultant Rheumatologist with extensive experience in both rheumatology and general internal medicine. She graduated from Manipal Academy of Higher Education, completed her Master of Medicine (MMed) at the University of Malaya, and underwent subspecialty training in Rheumatology through the Ministry of Health Malaysia and the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Bath, UK.

Dr Ramani played a key role in establishing the Rheumatology Unit at Hospital Serdang and is actively involved in clinical research, particularly in spondyloarthritis and osteoporosis. She has contributed to numerous international studies and published works on rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and vitamin D deficiency. She is a passionate educator, serving as an Honorary Lecturer at University Putra Malaysia and University College of Medical Sciences, and regularly lectures to medical students, healthcare professionals, and the public.

Beyond clinical work, Dr. Ramani is an advocate for public awareness of rheumatological diseases through media engagements and publications. She is a member of the Malaysian Society of Rheumatology, the Lupus Society of Malaysia, and the Arthritis Foundation Malaysia. Her contributions include editorial roles and the organization of national-level educational initiatives.

Dr Ong Ping Seung is a Consultant Physician and Rheumatologist. He completed his academics and training from National University of Malaysia and Membership Royal College of Physician in Edinburgh and Fellowship of Rheumatology.

Dr Ong is currently the Head of Rheumatology Unit in Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun, Ipoh, Malaysia. He is also committee member and trainer for Targeted Ultrasound Initiative (TUI) Malaysia.

Dr Ong has published various articles. He is the principal investigator for several clinical trials. His research interests include psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and SLE. 

Dr Tan Min Hui is a Consultant Nephrologist at Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) and a Visiting Researcher at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom. He earned his medical degree from the University of Edinburgh and completed his nephrology fellowship under the Ministry of Health Malaysia. He holds the Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (FRCP Edin) and completed a prestigious International Society of Nephrology Fellowship in Vasculitis and Lupus at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge.

Dr Tan’s clinical expertise lies in nephrology with special interests in ANCA-associated vasculitis, lupus nephritis, kidney transplantation, and acute kidney injury. He has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals including Clinical Kidney Journal, NPJ Vaccines, and Cureus, and presented at international conferences such as the International Vasculitis Workshop and the World Congress of Nephrology.

He has served on various national advisory panels and contributes to clinical guideline development and the National Renal Registry. Dr. Tan is also an active educator, examiner, and speaker for nephrology updates, workshops, and postgraduate courses. His work has been recognized through multiple awards including the Excellent Service Award and an ISN Fellowship Award.

Dr Chow Sook Khuan, MBBS (Mal), M. Med (Mal), MRCP (Edin), FRCP (Lond), FACR (USA), RhMSUS (USA), FAMM, CIPS (USA)

Dr Chow Sook Khuan is a Consultant Rheumatologist at Sunway Medical Centre. She earned her MBBS and Master of Medicine (M.Med) degrees from University of Malaya. She further obtained the Membership of Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) from Edinburgh. Her commitment to continuous professional development is evident through her fellowships with esteemed intuitions, including Royal College of Physicians (London), the American College of Rheumatology, and the Academy of Medicine Malaysia. Additionally, she holds certificationssuch is RhMSUS and CIPS from USA. In her clinical practice, Dr Chow focuses on the diagnosis and management of various autoimmune and rheumatic conditions. Her area of expertise encompass autoimmune disease and biologics treatment in autoimmune disease.

Dr Ng Sue Kheng is a Paediatric Rheumatology Specialist at Hospital Selayang, Malaysia. She holds an MBBS from International Medical University, MRCPCH (UK), and completed her Paediatric Rheumatology Fellowship with the Ministry of Health Malaysia and Bristol Royal Children’s Hospital. She has served in various paediatric roles since 2008 and received the Ministry of Health Excellence Service Award in 2013 and 2018.

Dr Ng has presented at major conferences including APLAR, the British Society for Rheumatology, and Paediatric Rheumatology European Society, and has published case reports in international journals. She has participated as a sub-investigator in multiple international clinical trials on juvenile idiopathic arthritis and uveitis.

Dr Ng currently chairs the Paediatric Rheumatology Subspeciality Subcommittee for Education under the Malaysian Medical Council (2021-2025), runs a Transition Clinic for young adults, and provides visiting services to HRPB Ipoh. Beyond her clinical and academic commitments, she is actively involved in youth spiritual development.

Dr Cheah Chee Ken is a Consultant Physician and Rheumatologist, currently serving as Clinical Professor of Medicine & Rheumatology at Sunway University and practising at Sunway Medical Centre and Sunway Velocity Medical Centre. He holds multiple fellowships, including FRCP (London, Edinburgh, Glasgow), CCD (ISCD), and is a Fellow of the American College of Rheumatology.

He completed his MD at Universiti Sains Malaysia and his Fellowship in Rheumatology both in Malaysia and at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust in the UK. Dr. Cheah has held various academic and clinical leadership roles, including Honorary Lecturer at IMU and Clinical Adjunct at Perdana University.

He is a certified examiner and host for MRCP (UK) PACES, and actively contributes to rheumatology education, national research, and multicentre clinical trials. His research focuses on lupus nephritis, relapsing polychondritis, inflammatory aortitis, and biologics in autoimmune diseases, with publications in journals such as Lupus, Rheumatology, and Autoimmunity Reviews.

An award-winning clinician and educator, Dr. Cheah is also involved in professional societies and advisory boards, contributing significantly to the advancement of rheumatology in Malaysia and the region.

Dr. Moonyza Akmal binti Ahmad Kamil is a Consultant Dermatologist with qualifications in Internal Medicine and Dermatology (MD, MMed Derm – UKM). Based in Kuala Lumpur, she practices at Hospital Kuala Lumpur, KPJ Sentosa Specialist Hospital, and Al-Islam Specialist Hospital. Her clinical interests include hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), with publications in peer-reviewed journals. She actively participates in public education initiatives and medical conferences, including the 23rd MSR-SSR 2025.

Dr. Moonyza is also a speaker and educator, delivering talks on skin conditions such as scalp psoriasis. She is known for her commitment to both clinical practice and dermatological research in Malaysia.

Dr. Leela Raman is in the final year of Rheumatology subspecialty training under the Ministry of Health, Malaysia. Currently based in Hospital Putrajaya, with prior clinical experience in Hospital Selayang and Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah, Klang.