The Medico Legal Society of Malaysia was set up because the medical profession and the legal profession did not have a common platform to discuss matters of common interest as well as for interdisciplinary co-operation. The legal profession has its own organisation, the Bar Council, the medical profession has its own body known as the Malaysian Medical Association and the dentists have their organisation called the Malaysian Dental Association.
Dato’ Mahadev Shankar and Dato’ Cecil Abraham together with a few other like minded lawyers and doctors took the initiative to establish the Medico Legal Society in 1986. A Protem Committee with Dato’ Mahadev Shankar as Chairman and Dato’ Cecil Abraham as Secretary was formed to implement the decision to establish this body. The Protem Committee received the full support and endorsement of the Bar Council, the Malaysian Medical Association and the Malaysian Dental Association for the formation of this body.
The then President of the Medico Legal Society of Singapore, the late Clin Prof Chao Tzee Cheng also provided all the support and encouragement to the Protem Committee.
Dato’ Cecil Abraham, the Protem Secretary drafted the Constitution. The Constitution was adopted at the Inaugural Meeting held on 14th February, 1987.
Dato’ Mahadev Shankar and Dato’ Cecil Abraham were elected as the President and Honorary Secretary respectively at this Inaugural Meeting.
The Registrar of Societies approved the registration of the Society on 24th December, 1987.