SECTION 1: TYPES OF MEMBERSHIP
Sub-section a. Ordinary Membership
Ordinary members shall be Malaysian citizens registered in Division I of the Dental Register under the Laws of Malaysia Act 51 Dental Act 1971.
Sub-section b. Associate Membership The following shall be eligible for Associate Membership:-
i) Any person holding a dental qualification recognized by the Malaysian Dental Council, provided such person is not residing in Malaysia.
ii) Any non Malaysian citizen holding a dental qualification recognized by the Malaysian Dental Council, provided that such members are residing in Malaysia.
iii) Accredited members of foreign national Dental Associations whose Associations extend reciprocal membership to members of MDA.
iv) Members of the Allied Professions in Malaysia who contribute to the advancement of Dentistry.
Sub-section c. Life Membership.
Life members shall be ordinary members of the Association upon application, having been members of the Association continuously for a minimum period of twenty years and who have attained the age of 60 years. Expulsion or resignation shall be deemed as a break in continuity of membership.
Sub-section d. Honorary Membership
Honorary members shall be members of the dental profession of scientific eminence and/or persons who have rendered distinguished service to the Association or to the promotion of dental and allied science.
Sub-section e. Student Membership
Student Membership shall be opened to all Malaysian undergraduates in any University or University College Dental School and all Foreign undergraduates in any University or University College Dental School in Malaysia.
Sub-section f. Affiliate Membership
Affiliate membership shall be extended to Dental societies or organizations registered with the Registrar of Societies of Malaysia.7
SECTION 2: ADMISSION AND PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERSHIP
Sub-section a. Ordinary, Associate and Life Members
i) Every candidate for admission as an Ordinary or Associate member shall apply in writing to the Honorary General Secretary, giving the address at which he is practicing and his dental qualification (except in the case of dental undergraduates), and he must be proposed and seconded by two ordinary members in benefit or life members of the Association.
ii) Members who qualify for Life membership under Article 6 Section 1 Sub-section c must inform the Honorary General Secretary in writing, of his eligibility to become a Life Member. There is no automatic admission to Life Membership.
iii) When a candidate has been duly elected by the Council of the Association, the Honorary General Secretary of the Association shall, within one week notify him of his election and forward him a copy of the Constitution of the Association together with a receipt acknowledging payment of entrance fee and annual subscription.
Sub-section b. Ordinary and Life Members:-
i) Have the right to actively participate in all General meetings of the Association.
ii) Have the right to stand for election, to nominate or second a candidate for election, and to vote in the Association elections.
Sub-section c. Associate Members and Honorary members shall:-
i) Have all the privileges of Ordinary and Life Membership except to participate in all General meetings of the Association or to vote, nominate or hold office in the Association.
Sub-section d. Honorary Membership
i) Honorary members shall be members of the dental profession of scientific eminence and/or persons who have rendered distinguished service to the Association or to the promotion of dental and allied science.
ii) The Honorary Member shall have been duly proposed by the Council without any dissenting votes with at least six weeks notice prior to the Annual General Meeting.
iii) At least two thirds of the delegates present shall have voted in favour at the Annual General Meeting.
iv) Notwithstanding Sub-section c above, Honorary Members who are registered in Division I of the Dental Register according to the Dental Act 1971 shall have all the privileges of Ordinary and Life Members including the eligibility to be nominated by the Association for appointment to National and International Bodies except the right to seek election to office in the Council of the Association.
Sub-section e. Affiliate Membership
i) Application of Affiliate membership by any society or organization shall be forwarded to the Honorary General Secretary. The application shall be forwarded to the Annual General Meeting for approval. A simple majority shall prevail.
ii) Affiliate Members shall have the privileges of using the facilities of the Association upon approval of the council. Sub-section f. Student Membership.
i) The Student Member shall inform the Association of his or her expected year of graduation at the time of entrance.
ii) The Student Membership shall be changed to ordinary membership after the year of graduation subject to Article 6 Section 1 Sub-section a.
SECTION 3 OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERSHIP
i) All members shall abide by the MDA Constitution and By-Laws and not act in any way inconsistent with its objectives.
ii) All members must notify the Honorary General Secretary of their change of address within 30 days of such change.
SECTION 4 CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP
Sub-section a. Automatic
A member of the Association shall ipso-facto cease to be a member
i) Upon his death, or
ii) Upon his conviction in a court of laws for a felony, or
iii) If he forfeits by misconduct any of the qualifications by virtue of which he became eligible for membership to the Association.
Sub-section b. Resignation
A member desiring to resign his membership of the Association shall notify the Honorary General Secretary in writing at least 30 days in advance before his current subscription is due. Such a member however, shall be required to pay any subscription or other monies owing by him to the Association.
Sub-section c. By Default
i) A member of the Association shall cease to be a member if his subscription is in default for 9 months and that shall be affirmed by Council.
ii) The notification of cessation of membership shall be to the last known address via AR registered mail.
Sub-section d
The Council of the Association is empowered to terminate the membership of any associate or affiliate member without assigning any reasons therefor.
Sub-section e
Any society or organization shall cease to be an affiliate member of the Association if there is a change in the status by which it became eligible for membership.
SECTION 5 DISCIPLINARY ACTION
Disciplinary Action:- Reprimand, Suspension or Expulsion.
Any matter pertaining to discipline shall be under the purview of the Board of Inquiry established under the By-Laws.
Sub-section a. The following shall be grounds for reprimand or suspension or expulsion of all types of members.
i) The council, on the advice of the Disciplinary Inquiry Board shall have the power to reprimand, suspend or expel any member of the Association:-
(a) Whose conduct shall, upon inquiry be calculated to be derogatory or detrimental to the honour and interest of the dental profession and/ or the Association.
(b) Who offers himself or agrees to allow himself to be elected into office or any international and/or regional dental organization to which the Association is affiliated without the nomination by or approval of the Council.
(c) Who openly and actively supports a member whose activity falls under Section 5 subsection a(i)(b).
(d) A member of the Association who files a report against the Association with the Registrar of Societies or takes court action against the association without exhausting all the avenues provided for under the Constitution of the Association.
ii) A majority of two-thirds of the members of the Council present and a quorum being established shall be required to over-rule the decisions of the Board of Inquiry.
Sub-section b. Any member, who has been suspended or expelled by the Association shall cease to represent the Association at any National or International Bodies.
SECTION 6. REINSTATEMENT
i) A member who has resigned or has his membership terminated by default of subscriptions under Article 6 Section 4 Sub-section c (i) pursuant to Article 9 section 2(a), may appeal to a General Meeting of the Association for reinstatement. The decision of the General Meeting shall be final provided at least two-thirds of the members present and voting shall have voted in favour of such resolution and provided his arrears of subscription from the year of termination has been settled.10 ii) Any member who have been suspended/ expelled under Section 6 may appeal through an Extra-Ordinary General meeting or at the Annual General Meeting whose decision shall be final provided at least two-thirds of the delegates present and voting shall have voted in favour of the resolution.
SECTION 7. REJECTION
The Council is empowered to reject any application for membership and is not obliged to enter correspondence nor give any reason to the applicant.

SECTION 2 ENTRANCE FEES AND SUBSCRIPTION
(a) Ordinary members shall pay an entrance fee of RM100.00 immediately after election and an annual subscription of RM200.00 payable in advance.
(b) Associate members shall pay an entrance fee of RM100.00 and an annual subscription of RM200.00.
(c) Notwithstanding Article 9 Section 2(b) above, dental undergraduates shall be required to pay an annual subscription of RM50.00.
(d) Honorary and Life members shall not be required to pay annual subscription.
(e) Affiliate members shall pay an annual subscription of RM100.00.
(f) Subscriptions will fall due for payment on 1st January in each calendar year.
(g) Any member whose subscription is more than six (6) months in arrears shall be so notified by the Honorary Financial Secretary and shall be denied the privileges of membership until he settles his dues within three (3) months of the notice. If by the end of this time no settlement has been made, the Council will terminate his membership as provided under Article 6, Section 4 Sub-section c (i). No further notices shall be required.