1 PART I PRELIMINARY-1. Short title and commencement.

(1) This Act may be cited as the Traditional and Complementary Medicine Act 2016 .

(2) This Act comes into operation on a date to be appointed by the Minister by notification in the Gazette , and the Minister may appoint different dates for the coming into operation of different provisions of this Act.

2 PART I PRELIMINARY-2. Non-application.

The Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 [Act 586] shall not apply to the practice of traditional and complementary medicine including the use of any premises, building and facility for such medical practice.

3 PART I PRELIMINARY-3. Interpretation.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-

  "practice of traditional and complementary medicine"  means a form of health-related practice designed to prevent, treat or manage ailment or illness or preserve the mental and physical well-being of an individual and includes such practices as traditional Malay medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, traditional Indian medicine, Islamic medical practice, homeopathy, and complementary therapies, but excludes medical and dental practices used by a medical and dental practitioner respectively;

  "designated practitioner body"  means a practitioner body of a recognized practice area that has been designated by the Minister under section 42;

  "practice area"  means a particular area, field, specialty or subject of practice in traditional and complementary med

4 PART II THE TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE COUNCIL-4. Establishment of the Council.

A council to be called the "Traditional and Complementary Medicine Council" is established for the purpose of this Act.

5 PART II THE TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE COUNCIL-5. Functions and powers of the Council.

The Council shall have the following functions:

(a) to advise the Minister on matters of national policy relating to traditional and complementary medicine practice;

(b) to establish the eligibility requirements for each practice area;

(c) to recognize qualifications conferred by any institutions of higher learning established under any written law in Malaysia or any institutions of higher learning recognized and authorized by any countries outside Malaysia for the purpose of registration under this Act;

(d) to specify the appropriate academic qualifications or recognized skills certificate issued pursuant to the National Skills Development Act 2006 [Act 652] which are or is necessary before a person may apply to be a registered practitioner;

(e) to specify the necessary apprenticeship and training requirements including rules for undergoing appre

6 PART II THE TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE COUNCIL-6. Membership of the Council.

(1) The Council shall consist of the following members who shall be appointed by the Minister on the recommendation of the Director General:

(a) not more than three representatives from the Ministry of Health;

(b) two representatives from any local universities with expertise in traditional and complementary medicine fields;

(c) not more than three registered practitioners in the public service;

(d) not more than eight individuals from private practice who represent the designated traditional and complementary medicine practitioner bodies in Malaysia; and

(e) five individuals who possess sufficient experience and expertise in the relevant industry.

(2) The Director General shall be the Chairman of the Council.

(3) A member of the Council shall, subject to such conditions as may be specified in his instrument of appointment, un

7 PART II THE TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE COUNCIL-7. Vacation of office.

(1) The office of a member of the Council shall be vacated if-

(a) he dies;

(b) there has been proved against him, or he has been convicted of, a charge in respect of-

(i) an offence involving fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude;

(ii) an offence under any law relating to corruption; or

(iii) any other offence punishable with imprisonment (in itself only or in addition to or in lieu of fine) for more than two years;

(c) he becomes a bankrupt;

(d) he is of unsound mind or is otherwise incapable of discharging his duties;

(e) he absents himself from three consecutive meetings of the Council without leave from the Chairman;

(f) his appointment is revoked by the Minister; or

(g) his resignation is accepted by the Minister.

(2) Where the office of a member

8 PART II THE TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE COUNCIL-8. Alternate member.

(1) The Minister may appoint in respect of each member appointed under subsection 6(1) an alternate member who shall be similarly qualified as the member.

(2) The Deputy Director General responsible for traditional and complementary medicine services shall be the alternate Chairman.

(3) An alternate member may attend meetings of the Council in place of the member when the member is for any reason unable to attend.

(4) An alternate member attending any meeting of the Council shall be deemed for all purposes to be a member of the Council.

(5) An alternate member shall, unless he sooner resigns his membership or his appointment is sooner revoked, cease to be an alternate member when the member in respect of whom he is an alternate member ceases to be a member of the Council.

9 PART II THE TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE COUNCIL-9. Meetings of the Council.

(1) Subject to subsection (2), the Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Council.

(2) The alternate Chairman shall preside at meetings of the Council in the absence of the Chairman.

(3) The Council shall meet at least twice a year.

(4) The Chairman may requisition from time to time a meeting of the Council if there is a need to do so.

(5) The members of the Council may requisition a meeting of the Council by submitting a requisition notice to the Secretary in accordance with subsection (6).

(6) A requisition notice under subsection (5) shall contain the signatures of at least three members of the Council and shall specify the matters to be discussed and decided upon by the Council.

10 PART II THE TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE COUNCIL-10. Quorum of meetings of the Council.

The quorum for all meetings of the Council shall be eleven.

11 PART II THE TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE COUNCIL-11. Voting.

(1) Every member present at a meeting of the Council shall have one vote.

(2) If on any question to be determined by the Council there is equality of votes, the Chairman or, in his absence, the alternate Chairman, shall have a casting vote in addition to his deliberative vote.

(3) All matters to be decided by the Council shall be decided by a majority of votes.

12 PART II THE TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE COUNCIL-12. Procedure of Council.

The Council shall determine its own procedure.

13 PART II THE TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE COUNCIL-13. Validity of acts and proceedings.

No act done or proceedings taken under this Act shall be questioned on the ground of-

(a) any vacancy in the membership of, or any defect in the constitution of the Council; or

(b) any omission, defect or irregularity not affecting the merits of the case.

14 PART II THE TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE COUNCIL-14. Advisors.

(1) The Council may appoint any person as it thinks necessary as advisors for the purpose of advising it on any matter relating to its functions.

(2) The Council may invite any advisor or any other person to attend any meeting or deliberation of the Council for the purpose of advising it on any matter under discussion, but any person so attending shall have no right to vote at such meeting or deliberation.

15 PART II THE TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE COUNCIL-15. Allowances.

The members of the Council, advisors and any other person invited to attend any meeting or deliberation of the Council shall be paid such allowances as may be determined by the Minister.

16 PART II THE TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE COUNCIL-16. Secretary of the Council and other officers.

(1) The Minister shall designate a public officer, as may be recommended by the Director General, as the Secretary of the Council to assist the Council in carrying out its functions under this Act.

(2) The Minister may designate such number of other public officers, as may be recommended by the Director General, to assist the Secretary in carrying out his functions.

(3) For the purpose of this Act, the Secretary and the officers designated under subsection (2) shall be deemed to be officers of the Council.

17 PART II THE TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE COUNCIL-17. Delegation of functions.

(1) The Council may, with the approval of the Minister, in writing, subject to such conditions, limitations or restrictions, delegate any of its functions as may be appropriate to-

(a) any designated practitioner body; or

(b) any person as the Council deems fit.

(2) Any function delegated under subsection (1) shall be performed and exercised in the name and on behalf of the Council.

(3) The Council shall record all delegations, including any revocation or amendment of the delegation, in a register.

(4) The Council shall make available all such delegations to the public.

(5) A delegation under this section shall not preclude the Council itself from performing or exercising at any time of the functions so delegated.

18 PART III GENERAL ADMINISTRATION-18. Registrar.

(1) For the purposes of this Act, the Secretary to the Council shall be the

(2) The Registrar shall be assisted by such number of officers as may be necessary for the performance of his functions and duties.

(3) The Council may appoint a person to act as a Registrar during the absence from Malaysia or incapacity from illness or otherwise of the

19 PART III GENERAL ADMINISTRATION-19. Register.

(1) The Registrar shall maintain in both physical and electronic forms any register as may be required under this Act.

(2) Any person may, on payment of the prescribed fee, inspect and make a copy of or take extracts an entry from any register.

(3) If a person requests that a copy be provided in an electronic media, the Registrar may provide the relevant information upon payment of a prescribed fee-

(a) on a data processing device; or

(b) by way of electronic transmission.

(4) The register maintained under this Act shall be deemed to be a public document within the meaning of the Evidence Act 1950 [Act 56] .

20 PART IV REGISTRATION OF TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE PRACTITIONERS-20. Recognized practice areas.

(1) The Council shall, from time to time, identify the practice areas that are to be undertaken in Malaysia, and shall make a recommendation to the Minister for such practice areas to be prescribed as recognized practice areas.

(2) The Minister may, after considering the recommendation of the Council, by order published in the Gazette , prescribe the practice areas as recognized practice areas.

21 PART IV REGISTRATION OF TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE PRACTITIONERS-21. Practitioner to practise only in recognized practice area.

(1) No person shall practise in any practice area which is not a recognized practice area.

(2) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable-

(a) in respect of a first offence, to a fine not exceeding thirty thousand ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both; and

(b) in respect of a subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding fifty thousand ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both.

22 PART IV REGISTRATION OF TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE PRACTITIONERS-22. Provisional registration.

(1) A person intending to practise traditional and complementary medicine in any recognized practice area shall apply to the Council to be provisionally registered as a practitioner by submitting the prescribed form to the Registrar and shall comply with any qualifications as may be specified by the Council for that recognised practice area.

(2) The Council may refuse to provisionally register an applicant under subsection (1).

(3) Where the Council refuses to provisionally register an applicant, the applicant may appeal against that decision to the Minister within fourteen days from the date he was notified of the refusal.

(4) The Minister shall make a decision within seven days from the receipt of the appeal and his decision shall be final.

(5) A provisionally registered practitioner shall undergo a period of residency of not less than one year with any hospital or institution in Malaysia which is approved by the Counc

23 PART IV REGISTRATION OF TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE PRACTITIONERS-23. Registered practitioner.

(1) Subject to subsection (2), a provisionally registered practitioner or any practitioner exempted under subsection 22(10) intending to practise traditional and complementary medicine in a recognized practice area may apply to be registered with the Council.

(2) A provisionally registered practitioner may apply to be registered with the Council only after he completes the period of residency under section 22.

(3) A practitioner may be registered in one or more recognized practice areas if he satisfies the eligibility requirements for those practice areas and has paid the prescribed fee.

(4) The registration criteria, eligibility requirements, type and field of practice and the procedures for registration shall be as prescribed.

(5) When the practitioner is registered under this section, the Council shall cause to be issued to him a certificate of registration.

(6) A registered practitioner shall notify the Regis

24 PART IV REGISTRATION OF TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE PRACTITIONERS-24. Temporary practising certificate.

(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Act, the Council may, upon application in writing, temporarily register, subject to such conditions and restrictions as the Council deems fit to impose, a person who is registered as a practitioner outside Malaysia.

(2) The Council shall issue to a person temporarily registered under subsection (1) a temporary practising certificate.

(3) The holder of such temporary practising certificate shall, while the certificate remains in force and subject to the restrictions and conditions specified in the certificate, be deemed to be a registered practitioner.

(4) The Council may at any time revoke the temporary registration of a person under this section and the temporary practising certificate issued to such person shall thereupon lapse.

25 PART IV REGISTRATION OF TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE PRACTITIONERS-25. Effect of non-registration.

(1) A person who is not a registered practitioner shall not, directly or indirectly, practise the traditional and complementary medicine services.

(2) Any person who contravenes subsection (1), commits an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable-

(a) in respect of a first offence, to a fine not exceeding thirty thousand ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both; and

(b) in respect of a subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding fifty thousand ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both.

(3) The court may, in addition to subsection (2), order the Council to enter the details of such person in a register and such person may not apply to be registered until the expiry of a period of two years from the date of conviction.

26 PART IV REGISTRATION OF TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE PRACTITIONERS-26. Registered practitioner's practising certificate.

(1) A registered practitioner shall not practise a recognized practice area unless he holds a valid and subsisting practising certificate.

(2) A registered practitioner shall make an application for a practising certificate to the Registrar in the prescribed form and pay the prescribed fee.

(3) A practising certificate shall be valid for not more than twelve months from the date of issuance and shall contain a unique alpha-numerical reference number.

(4) The Registrar shall maintain a register of registered practitioners who have been issued with practising certificates.

(5) All prescriptions, reports or referrals produced, made or issued by a registered practitioner to a patient or any third party as representative of the patient shall bear the signature of the registered practitioner and the registration number of his practising certificate.

(6) The application for the renewal of an annual practising certificat

27 PART IV REGISTRATION OF TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE PRACTITIONERS-27. Revocation of registration.

(1) Other than revocation of registration of a registered practitioner under section 37 arising from disciplinary proceedings against him, the Council may revoke the registration of a registered practitioner if-

(a) he has been convicted in Malaysia or elsewhere of any offence punishable with imprisonment (whether in itself only or in addition to or in lieu of a fine);

(b) he has had his qualification withdrawn or cancelled by the awarding authority which it was acquired or by which it was awarded; or

(c) the registered practitioner has been declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be mentally unfit or has been found by the Council to be mentally or physically unable to practice.

(2) Prior to revoking the registration of a registered practitioner, the Council shall-

(a) inform the registered practitioner, by written notice, as soo

28 PART IV REGISTRATION OF TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE PRACTITIONERS-28. Re-registration.

(1) A registered practitioner whose registration has been revoked may after the expiry of thirty-six months or such other time as may be specified in the grounds and decisions for revocation made under section 27, apply to the Council to be re-registered.

(2) The Council may re-register the person under subsection (1) if he is satisfied that the reasons or grounds for the revocation of registration made under section 27 are unlikely to recur or that the person has now satisfied the registration requirements.

(3) Upon such re-registration, any stop order made under section 51 shall be revoked, and such revocation and the effective date of such revocation shall be recorded in a register.

29 PART V OBLIGATIONS AND DUTIES OF REGISTERED PRACTITIONERS-29. Use of titles and abbreviations.

(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), a registered practitioner may use any title or abbreviation to denote his qualification or status.

(2) Any title or abbreviation, used by a registered practitioner, unless the registered practitioner is also a qualified medical or dental practitioner, should not cause the public to believe that the registered practitioner is qualified to practice medicine or surgery under the Medical Act 1971 or dentistry under the Dental Act 1971.

(3) The Council shall specify and publish a list of prohibited titles and abbreviations through notification in the Gazette .

(4) A registered practitioner shall not use any title or abbreviation which has been prohibited by the Council under subsection (3).

(5) If a registered practitioner has been found to have used any prohibited title or abbreviation specified under subsection (3), the Council may place the practitioner on a watch-list regist

30 PART V OBLIGATIONS AND DUTIES OF REGISTERED PRACTITIONERS-30. Duty to refer patient to medical or dental practitioner.

(1) A registered practitioner shall refer his patient to a medical practitioner or dental practitioner if the patient is experiencing an acute medical emergency or if the ailment or condition of the patient is beyond the skill, competency or expertise of the registered practitioner.

(2) An acute medical emergency is a medical condition which is sudden, unanticipated and urgent, requiring immediate medical or surgical evaluation or treatment for the relief of acute, pain and suffering of the patient.

(3) A registered practitioner shall clearly and carefully explain to and advise the patient or the guardian or representative of the patient of the duty to refer the patient to a medical or dental practitioner so as to enable the patient or the guardian or representative of the patient to make an informed decision as to whether to refuse to be referred or not.

(4) Notwithstanding subsection (1), if the patient or the guardian or repr

31 PART V OBLIGATIONS AND DUTIES OF REGISTERED PRACTITIONERS-31. Duty to report any epidemic or other localized outbreaks of diseases, etc , to the Registrar.

(1) In addition to the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 [Act 342] , all registered practitioners shall, in accordance with the regulations, report to the Registrar on the occurrence of any epidemic or other localized outbreaks of diseases, or infectious diseases or any other illness, public health problems or any adverse reaction of patients to traditional and complementary medicine services.

(2) If a practitioner contravenes subsection (1), the Council may-

(a) impose a stop order pursuant to section 51; or

(b) revoke the registration of the practitioner.

32 PART V OBLIGATIONS AND DUTIES OF REGISTERED PRACTITIONERS-32. Use of medical device.

The use of medical devices by registered practitioners shall be subject to the medical device comforming to the Medical Device Act 2012 [Act 737] .

33 PART V OBLIGATIONS AND DUTIES OF REGISTERED PRACTITIONERS-33. Advertisement and promotion.

(1) A registered practitioner or any person engaging or employing the practitioner shall not make any spurious claim in any advertisement, journal, article, pamphlet, website or media commercial in respect of the curative, medicinal, or health properties of any traditional and complementary medicine services that is provided by the registered practitioner.

(2) A registered practitioner or any person engaging or employing the practitioner shall not make any false or misleading representation in respect of any traditional and complementary medicine services so as to induce, influence or cause a patient to enter into a contract for the purchase of such services.

(3) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2), commits an offence and shall, on conviction-

(a) in respect of a first offence, to a fine not exceeding thirty thousand ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both; and<

34 PART V OBLIGATIONS AND DUTIES OF REGISTERED PRACTITIONERS-34. Registered practitioners may incorporate.

(1) A registered practitioner may incorporate his practice into a company with limited liability, practice as a company or enter into a partnership, in order to provide traditional and complementary medicine services.

(2) A registered practitioner who has incorporated his practice into a company with limited liability, practice as a company or enter into a partnership pursuant to subsection (1) shall, as soon as practicable, notify the Registrar of the legal status of his practice.

35 PART V OBLIGATIONS AND DUTIES OF REGISTERED PRACTITIONERS-35. Mandatory practice standards in governance and practice codes.

(1) The Council shall prescribe the mandatory practice standards, for the purpose of the governance and practice codes which are to be complied which by registered practitioners.

(2) A registered practitioner shall comply with the mandatory practice standards in governance and practice codes.

(3) Non-compliance with the mandatory practice standards in governance and practice codes shall subject the registered practitioner to disciplinary action and revocation of registration.

(4) Prior to determining the mandatory practice standards, the Council shall conduct a public engagement as to the scope of the mandatory practice standards.

(5) The public engagement shall set out the views of the Council in respect of the mandatory practice standards and provide interested parties not less than forty-five days to submit written responses to the Council.

(6) At the conclusion of the public engagement process, the Council sh

36 PART VI DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS-36. Disciplinary jurisdiction of the Council.

(1) The Council shall have disciplinary jurisdiction over all registered practitioners under this Act.

(2) The Council may exercise disciplinary jurisdiction over any registered practitioner who-

(a) has conducted himself in such a manner so as to bring the profession into disrepute;

(b) has failed to comply with the mandatory practice standards contained in the governance and practice codes as provided for in section 35;

(c) is alleged to have committed serious professional misconduct as stipulated in the code of professional conduct and any other similar guidelines and directives issued by the Council;

(d) has obtained registration by fraud or misrepresentation;

(e) was not at the time of his registration entitled to be registered; or

(f) has not complied with any provisions of this Act, or subsidiary legislation made or conditio

37 PART VI DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS-37. Disciplinary punishments.

(1) The Council may, in the exercise of its disciplinary jurisdiction, impose any of the following punishment:

(a) reprimand such registered practitioner;

(b) order such registered practitioner's registration to be subjected to conditions which may include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following:

(i) that such conditions relating to the registered practitioner's practice area as it considers appropriate, be imposed on the registration of such registered practitioner;

(ii) that such registered practitioner undergo educational courses or programmes as may be specified by the Council; or

(iii) that such registered practitioner report on his practice area to such registered practitioner or persons as may be specified by the Council;

(c) order the name of such registered practitioner to be suspended from the Register for such peri

38 PART VI DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS-38. Appeal against orders of the Council.

(1) Any registered practitioner who is aggrieved by any order made in respect of him by the Council in the exercise of its disciplinary jurisdiction, may appeal to the High Court, and the High Court may thereupon affirm, reverse or vary the order appealed against or may give such direction in the matter as it thinks proper; the cost of the appeal shall be at the discretion of the High Court.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), the practice in relation to any such appeal shall be subject to the rules of court applicable in the High Court.

(3) The High Court shall not have the power to hear any appeal against an order made under section 37 unless a notice of such appeal was given within one month of the service of the order in the prescribed manner.

39 PART VI DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS-39. Restoration of name in register.

(1) No registered practitioner whose name has been struck off from the register under the provisions of paragraph 37(1) (e) shall thereafter be entitled to be registered as a practitioner under this Act, but the Council may, if it thinks fit in any case to do so, on the application of the person concerned, order that the name of such person be restored to the register.

(2) Any registered practitioner whose name has been suspended from the register under paragraph 37(1) (c) shall be entitled at the expiration of the period of suspension, but not earlier, to apply for the practising certificate (if the period for which the certificate is issued is still unexpired) to be returned to him.

(3) An application under subsection (1) or (2) shall be made in such manner or form and accompanied by such documents, particulars and fees as may be prescribed.

40 PART VII PATIENT'S RIGHTS-40. Patient's rights.

(1) All patient information, directly or indirectly, provided to or obtained by a registered practitioner or any person engaging or employing the practitioner, shall-

(a) be kept in confidence; and

(b) not be disclosed to any other party unless with the prior consent of the patient or by an order of the court.

(2) A registered practitioner shall properly notify and inform the patient of any harmful, unsafe or other effects which the traditional and complementary medicine services provided may produce, by themselves or in combination with other medicines, prior to providing, supplying or prescribing the patient with such services and shall maintain a record of such notification and information.

(3) Where any traditional and complementary medicine services are provided, supplied or replaced pursuant to paragraph (4) (a) by a registered practitioner or any person engaging

41 PART VII PATIENT'S RIGHTS-41. Dispute resolution service.

(1) The Council may resolve or appoint a committee to resolve any dispute arising out of or in connection with any matter relating to section 40 between a patient and a registered practitioner.

(2) The Council shall determine the procedures and guidelines for the management and proceedings of the dispute resolution service.

(3) All decisions made pursuant to a dispute resolution proceeding against a patient or a registered practitioner shall be entered into the register.

(4) The decisions referred to in subsection (3) shall be complied with by the patient and the registered practitioner.

(5) Any patient or registered practitioner who is dissatisfied with the decision made by the Council or a committee appointed by the Council under subsection (1) may apply to the court to review the decision.

42 PART VIII TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE PRACTITIONER BODY-42. Designation and revocation of designation of practitioner body.

(1) The Minister may, on the recommendation of the Council and by order published in the Gazette , designate a practitioner body of a recognized practice area to exercise the functions delegated under subsection 17(1) and other functions under this Act.

(2) The Minister may, on the recommendation of the Council and by order published in the Gazette , revoke the designation under subsection (1) if he is satisfied that the designated practitioner body is no longer capable of discharging its functions or meeting the requirements under this Act.

(3) Upon such revocation under subsection (2), the Minister may, on the recommendation of the Council, designate another practitioner body to be the designated practitioner body or direct the Council accordingly.

43 PART VIII TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE PRACTITIONER BODY-43. Duties of designated practitioner body.

(1) The Council may delegate any of its function to designated practitioner body.

(2) The Council may override any decision of the designated practitioner body relating to the discharge of the delegated functions.

(3) The Council may request any relevant information from the designated practitioner body and the information shall be provided within the time stated in such request.

(4) Any action taken or performed by designated practitioner body pursuant to any order or direction of the Council in discharging its delegated functions shall not be void by reason of any inconsistency with any subsequent decision of the Council.

(5) The Council may, from time to time, issue orders or directions to the designated practitioner body in respect of the discharge of the functions that have been so delegated.

44 PART VIII TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE PRACTITIONER BODY-44. Self-regulatory framework when practitioner body is ready.

(1) The Council may, if the practitioners of a recognized practice area may be better, efficiently and effectively governed by their own practitioner body, determine that the designated practitioner body shall be the governing body of the recognized practice area.

(2) The determination by the Council under subsection (1) shall specify the effective date when the designated practitioner body will assume the regulatory role of the Council.

(3) All determinations by the Council under subsection (1) shall be recorded in a register.

(4) The designated practitioner body shall undertake, perform and discharge the following functions:

(a) make recommendations to the Council as to the appropriate academic qualifications or certification issued pursuant to the National Skills Development Act 2006 that an individual would require in order to be eligible to apply to be a registered practitioner of the recognize

45 PART VIII TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE PRACTITIONER BODY-45. Supervision by Council.

The Council shall supervise the designated practitioner body and may direct the designated practitioner body on any matter relating to the practice of the recognized practice area.

46 PART VIII TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE PRACTITIONER BODY-46. Effect of revocation of designation.

(1) If the Minister revokes the designation of a practitioner body in accordance with subsection 42(2), then the practitioner body shall-

(a) deliver all of its records and registers to the Council;

(b) immediately cease to carry out and discharge all regulatory and oversight functions;

(c) notify all parties, including any relevant international organisations that the practitioner body has ceased to be the regulatory body for that practice area; and

(d) comply with such terms as may be specified by the Minister.

(2) If a practitioner body whose designation has been revoked fails to comply with the requirements specified under subsection (1), the practitioner body-

(a) commits an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand ringgit or imprisonment of the principal office bearers

47 PART VIII TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE PRACTITIONER BODY-47. Preparation of governance and practice codes.

(1) The Council may instruct a designated practitioner body to prepare governance and practice codes according to the mandatory practice standards as prescribed by the Council under section 35.

(2) The designated practitioner body in which the Council has instructed to prepare governance and practice code shall prepare it within the specified time.

(3) The governance and practice codes prepared by the designated practitioner body shall be approved and recorded by the Council in register.

(4) Notwithstanding with subsection (1), the Council may determine the mandatory practice standards on any matter which the governance and practice codes are to contain, if-

(a) a designated practitioner body is unlikely to develop the governance and practice codes or parts thereof, within a reasonable time;

(b) the Council is satisfied that any subject matter of the governance and practice codes ha

48 PART IX ENFORCEMENT-48. Authorized officer.

(1) The Minister may, in writing, authorize any medical officer of health, health inspector of the Ministry of Health and any local authority, any public officer and suitably qualified person to exercise the power of enforcement under this Act.

(2) Any such authorized officer shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of the Penal Code [Act 574] .

49 PART IX ENFORCEMENT-49. Authority card.

(1) The Council shall issue to each authorized officer an authority card which shall be signed by the Chairman.

(2) Whenever an authorized officer exercises any of the power of enforcement under this Act, he shall, on demand, produce to the person against whom the power is being exercised the authority card issued to him under subsection (1).

50 PART IX ENFORCEMENT-50. Power of investigation.

(1) An authorized officer may investigate the commission of any offence under this Act.

(2) For the avoidance of doubt, it is declared that for the purpose of this Act, an authorized officer shall have all or any of the powers of a police officer of whatever rank in relation to police investigations in seizable cases as provided under the Criminal Procedure Code [Act 593] , and all powers shall be in addition to the powers provided for under this Act and not in derogation thereof.

51 PART IX ENFORCEMENT-51. Stop order.

(1) An authorized officer may, on his own motion or upon a receipt of a written complaint or upon an application by the Secretary, issue an order requiring a practitioner to stop and cease practising a practice area, if-

(a) the practitioner has so practised despite his registration being revoked;

(b) the practitioner practise the recognized practice area for which he is not registered;

(c) the registered practitioner practise the recognized practice area without the practising certificate or while he is suspended;

(d) the registered practitioner employs unsafe practices that affects the safety of the patient;

(e) the registered practitioner has contravened section 30 or 31;

(f) the registered practitioner has failed to comply with any determination, direction or order issued by the Council, the Minister or the Director General;

52 PART IX ENFORCEMENT-52. Closure order.

(1) The Director General may, on matters concerning public health and safety, or persistent use of unsafe or unhygienic practices, issue an order to close any premises, building or facility that is used for the provision of traditional and complementary medicine services for such period and on such prescribed terms as may be specified therein.

(2) The effect of a closure order issued under subsection (1) is that the premises, building or facility is not to be used in the practice of that practice area, but such closure order shall not affect any other activities at the premise, building or facility which are not activities of that practice area.

(3) All closure orders issued by the Director General shall contain the grounds and reasons for the order.

(4) Upon the issuance of the order under subsection (1), the authorized officer may enter the premises, building or facility to inform the occupants of the order and he shall therea

53 PART IX ENFORCEMENT-53. Search and seizure with warrant.

(1) If it appears to a Magistrate, upon written information on oath from an authorized officer and after such inquiry as the Magistrate considers necessary, that there is reasonable cause to believe that-

(a) any premises has been used for or is about to be used for; or

(b) there is in any premises evidence necessary to the conduct of an investigation into,

the commission of an offence under this Act or any regulations made under this Act, the Magistrate may issue a warrant authorizing any authorized officer named in the warrant at any reasonable time by day or by night and with or without assistance, to enter the premises and if need be by force.

(2) Without affecting the generality of subsection (1), the warrant issued by Magistrate may authorize the authorized officer to-

(a) take samples of any traditional and complementary medicine goods;

54 PART IX ENFORCEMENT-54. Power to enter premises.

An authorized officer may at any time enter any premises for the purpose of-

(a) inspecting any sample of any traditional and complementary medicine goods, receptacle, package, conveyance, book, document or other thing as he considers necessary;

(b) verifying the accuracy of records or statement or any information given to an authorized officer; or

(c) collecting samples of any traditional and complementary medicine or other substances found in the premises for the purposes of ascertaining, by testing or otherwise, whether an offence has been committed.

55 PART IX ENFORCEMENT-55. Power to take sample.

(1) An authorized officer may demand, select, take or collect samples of any traditional and complementary medicine or other substances for the purposes of ascertaining without payment from any person importing, manufacturing, distributing, selling or having possession of such goods, or his or its agent or servant from whom the other substances are procured.

(2) The procedure for taking and dealing with the samples shall be as prescribed.

56 PART IX ENFORCEMENT-56. Access to computerized data.

(1) An authorized officer conducting a search under this Act shall be given access to computerized data whether stored in a computer or otherwise.

(2) For the purposes of this section, "access" includes being provided with the necessary password, encryption code, decryption code, software or hardware and any other means required to enable the comprehension of computerized data.

57 PART IX ENFORCEMENT-57. Institution of prosecution.

No prosecution shall be instituted for any offence under this Act without the consent in writing of the Public Prosecutor.

58 PART IX ENFORCEMENT-58. List of document, record, etc , seized.

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2), where any document, record, manual, book, material or other article is seized pursuant to this Act, the authorized officer making the seizure-

(a) shall prepare and sign-

(i) a list of the document, record, manual, book, material or other article seized; and

(ii) a written notice of the seizure containing the grounds for the seizure; and

(b) shall as soon as practicable serve a copy of the list of the document, record, manual, book, material or other article seized and the written notice of the seizure under paragraph (a) to the occupier of the premises which have been searched or to his agent or servant at those premises.

(2) The written notice of the seizure shall not be required to be served in pursuance of paragraph (1) (b) where the seizure is made in the presence of the person a

59 PART IX ENFORCEMENT-59. Release of document, record, etc , seized.

(1) If any document, record, manual, book, material or other article has been seized under this Act, the authorized officer who effected the seizure may, after referring to the Public Prosecutor, release the document, record, manual, book, material or other article has been seized to the person as he determines to be lawfully entitled to it, and is not otherwise required for the purpose of any proceedings under this Act or for the purpose of any prosecution under any other written law, and in such event neither the authorized officer effecting the seizure nor the Federal Government, shall be liable to any proceedings by any person if the seizure and the release of the document, record, manual, book, material or other article had been effected in good faith.

(2) A record in writing shall be made by the authorized officer effecting the release of the document, record, manual, book, material or other article under subsection (1), specifying in det

60 PART X GENERAL-60. Power to make regulations.

(1) The Minister may make regulations for the further, better and more convenient carrying out the provisions of this Act.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the Minister may make regulations-

(a) to prescribe the form of scrutiny and oversight the practice of the recognized practice area;

(b) to prescribe the form and manner in which applications for registration and for annual practising certificates shall be made;

(c) to prescribe the amount of fees and charges to be payable by practitioners in respect of any matter specified in this Act;

(d) to prescribe the manner of displaying the practising certificate;

(e) to prescribe the information that should be published in the registers;

(f) to prescribe the amount to be paid to members of the Council, the Secretary and members of committees formed by the Counc

61 PART X GENERAL-61. Penalties for subsidiary legislation.

Any subsidiary legislation made under this Act may provide for any act or omission in contravention of any provision in the subsidiary legislation shall be an offence and may provide penalties of a fine not exceeding ten thousand ringgit or a term of imprisonment not exceeding three months or to both.

62 PART X GENERAL-62. Offences by body corporate.

(1) Where a body corporate commits an offence under this Act or any of its subsidiary legislation, any person who at the time of the commission of the offence was a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate or was purporting to act in any such capacity or was in any manner or to any extent responsible for the management of any of the affairs of the body corporate or was assisting in such management-

(a) may be charged severally or jointly in the same proceedings with the body corporate; and

(b) where the body corporate is found guilty of the offence, shall be deemed to be guilty of that offence unless, having regard to the nature of his functions in that capacity and to all circumstances, he proves-

(i) that the offence was committed without his knowledge, consent or connivance; and

(ii) that he took all reasonable precautions and had exercised

63 PART XI TRANSITIONAL PROVISION-63. Transitional.

(1) Any practitioner body who before the coming into operation of this Act undertakes or performs its functions as a governing body of a practice area, shall, on the coming into operation of this Act, cease to so undertake or perform such functions until it has been designated as a designated practitioner body under section 42.

(2) Any register of practitioners kept and maintained by a practitioner body immediately before the coming into operation of this Act shall, on the coming into operation of this Act, be deemed to be registers kept and maintained under section 19 and shall be deemed to form part of such register of practitioners.

(3) Any practitioner who is registered with a practitioner body who before the coming into operation of this Act undertakes or performs its functions as a governing body of a practice area shall apply to be registered under this Act and shall be exempted from section 22.