Steering Committee
We are thrilled to announce the formation of the Steering Committee for the highly anticipated National Tobacco Control Conference (NTCC) 2025.
We proudly present the distinguished members of the Steering Committee:
Dato’ Dr Saunthari Somasundaram
President, National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM). Co-chairperson, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Malaysia.
Dr Noraryana Binti Hassan
Deputy Director (NCD), Disease Control Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia.
Prof Datuk Dr Lekhraj Rampal
Amal Putra, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia. President, Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control Malaysia.
Prof Dr Mohamad Haniki Bin Nik Mohamed
Professor, Kulliyyah of Pharmacy, IIUM Kuantan Campus.
Prof Dr Elil Renganathan
Professor, Public Health and Policy, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia
Dato’ Dr Saunthari Somasundaram
President, National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM). Co-chairperson, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Malaysia.
Dr. Saunthari Somasundaram, with over two decades of experience in cancer control, is a leading advocate for cancer awareness, prevention, early detection, and survivorship, primarily through the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM). During the Covid-19 pandemic, NCSM’s efforts were recognised with the Overall Outstanding Vaccination Contribution by Healthcare Non-Governmental Organisation (Malaysia) Award. Dr. Saunthari’s work extends to international Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) control, contributing to global solutions and local sustainable initiatives, including her advisory role for the Malaysian Ministry of Health and uniting Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in health sectors. Her international influence includes serving as a Board Member of UICC and contributing to the cancer control agenda regionally and globally.
Locally, Dr. Saunthari has been instrumental in championing the NCD agenda since 2010, establishing the NCD Alliance Malaysia in 2018 and contributing to tobacco control efforts through MyWatch. She is deeply involved in initiatives like the City Cancer Challenge, Greater Petaling, and works directly with cancer patients, providing support and medical counseling. Her diverse skills and extensive experience offer a holistic understanding of the challenges and opportunities in NCD and cancer control in the ASEAN region. In acknowledgment of her significant contributions, she was conferred the Darjah Datuk Paduka Mahkota Perak award in November 2020 by His Royal Highness The Sultan of Perak.
Dr Noraryana Binti Hassan
Deputy Director (NCD), Disease Control Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia.
Dr Noraryana is a Public Health practitioner with a Master of Public Health (MPH), specialising in Health Promotion from the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (2008). She has extensive experience in the field of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
She has collaborated with a wide range of groups, both large and small, to advocate for healthier lifestyles. Her vast experience in addressing public health issues and promoting community awareness positions her to support the advancement of public health in the country.
Prof Datuk Dr Lekhraj Rampal
Amal Putra, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia. President, Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control Malaysia.
Prof. Datuk Dr Lekhraj Rampal is a prominent tobacco control advocate in Malaysia, serving as President (2018–2020) and Deputy President (2014–2018) of the Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control and as a member of the WHO FCTC Steering Committee. He has held key roles in the Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Committee under the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) for decades, including as Chairman (1993, 1996–2009, 2014–2019) and Secretary (1983, 1986–1992).
As a strong proponent of tobacco control policies, he has led public education campaigns, advocated for smoke-free workplaces, higher tobacco taxes, advertising bans, and better packaging regulations. He has organized major anti-smoking initiatives, including National No Smoking Day (1986), No Smoking Week (multiple years), International Quit Smoking and Win Campaigns (1998–2006), and World No-Tobacco Day events (1993–2018). Additionally, he has trained healthcare workers in tobacco cessation and contributed to tobacco control research for over 30 years.
His efforts have earned him prestigious awards, including the MMA Gold Medal (2003, 2014) for outstanding public health contributions and the Blue Ribbon Award for advocacy in smoke-free environments. His work has significantly shaped tobacco control strategies in Malaysia and developing nations.
Prof Dr Mohamad Haniki Bin Nik Mohamed
Professor, Kulliyyah of Pharmacy, IIUM Kuantan Campus.
Prof. Dr. Mohamad Haniki Nik Mohamed is a leading public health expert in tobacco control and clinical pharmacology. As a professor at IIUM’s Kulliyyah of Pharmacy since 2012 and Chairman of Malaysia’s WHO FCTC Scientific Study Working Committee, he shapes national tobacco policies. He pioneered in smoking cessation as he founded Malaysia’s first multidisciplinary quit-smoking clinic (2002) and led key studies like the National E-Cigarette Survey (2016) and SCIDOTS Project, integrating TB care with tobacco control. With over 50 peer-reviewed publications, his research focuses on cessation interventions and policy impact, supported by grants from SEATCA and IDRC.
As a sought-after advisor, he contributes to WHO guidelines and Malaysia’s Health Ministry. His innovations include the award-winning Viva QS cessation product (ITEX 2010 Silver Medal). Through policy, education, and community engagement, Prof. Haniki advances evidence-based strategies to combat tobacco use in Malaysia and globally.
Prof Dr Elil Renganathan
Professor, Public Health and Policy, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia
Professor Elil is a senior international expert possessing significant leadership acumen and proficiency across various domains including public health, global health, evaluation, organisational learning, strategic planning, and governance. Throughout his extensive career spanning three decades, he has occupied numerous roles in public health, carrying diverse strategic and managerial duties. Notably, he spent over 24 years serving in leadership and global capacities within the World Health Organization (WHO).
His most recent role involved serving as a Special Advisor to the high-level Panel for a Global Public Health Convention, demonstrating his ongoing commitment to shaping global health policies and initiatives. Throughout his career, Professor Elil has collaborated closely with governments, UN agencies, non-governmental organisations, and academic institutions, contributing significantly to advancing public health agendas on a global scale.