KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 (Bernama) -- Suriaghandi Suppiah, Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), has been conferred the Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri (D.S.P.N.), which carries the title Dato'. The honour was bestowed by Tuan Yang Terutama Tun Dato' Seri Utama Haji Ramli bin Ngah Talib, Yang di-Pertua Negeri Pulau Pinang, at Dewan Sri Pinang in conjunction with His Excellency's 85th Birthday Celebration.
The conferment recognises Dato' Suriaghandi's contributions to nation-building across a career spanning nearly three decades in healthcare, sovereign investment, and institutional leadership. Prior to his appointment at MHTC in September 2025, he served in senior roles at Khazanah Nasional, KPJ Healthcare, and the Employees Provident Fund, and represented Malaysia in hockey at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. Across these institutions, his work has consistently centred on strengthening organisations that carry national responsibility.
At his current helm of MHTC, Dato' Suriaghandi has led a marked acceleration of Malaysia Healthcare's international agenda. This includes the launch and execution of the Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism 2026 (MYMT 2026) under the theme Healing Meets Hospitality, expanded market activations across ASEAN, the Middle East, and South Asia, deepened partnerships with financial institutions and government agencies, and a strengthened governance and data-driven decision-making culture within the organisation. These efforts have reinforced Malaysia's standing as a preferred healthcare destination while raising the standards by which the industry measures itself.
Speaking after the investiture, Dato' Suriaghandi said:
“I receive this honour with deep gratitude to Tuan Yang Terutama and the State of Pulau Pinang. Recognition of this kind is never carried alone. It belongs to every institution that shaped me, and to the people across Malaysia Healthcare, our member hospitals, our partners in government, and the team at MHTC, who do the quiet, disciplined work on which a nation's reputation is built. My response to this honour is a simple one: to keep earning it.”The conferment comes as Malaysia Healthcare strengthens its global presence under MYMT 2026, with MHTC committed to sustaining momentum through the second half of the year and beyond.
Photo can be found in this link:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1p0_XwNj_bxkPaOw89TUYdG94HuSZYXaP?usp=sharingAbout Malaysia Healthcare Travel CouncilMalaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), established in 2009 under the purview of the Ministry of Health (MOH) Malaysia, is entrusted with developing and nurturing the “Malaysia Healthcare” brand. MHTC enhances, coordinates, and promotes Malaysia's healthcare travel industry by fostering industry collaborations and building valuable public-private partnerships both domestically and internationally. With 91 member hospitals nationwide, MHTC continues to elevate the healthcare travel ecosystem through strong branding, seamless patient experiences, and strategic market initiatives. In line with these efforts, MHTC is spearheading the Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism (MYMT) 2026, the nation's first dedicated year to celebrate and advance healthcare travel. MYMT 2026 serves as a milestone initiative to showcase Malaysia's world-class healthcare offerings, strengthen its position as the premier global healthcare destination, and highlight the industry's significant contribution to the national economy.
More information can be found at
https://malaysiahealthcare.orgSOURCE: Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC)
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Mohamad Shahizam Fauzi
Head, Communications
Tel: +603 8776 6168
Email: shahizam.f@mhtc.org.my
Name: Muhammad Rasydan Ma'at
Head of Unit, PR and Media Unit, Communications
Tel:+603 8776 6168
Email: rasydan.m@mhtc.org.my
--BERNAMA