The Malaysian Liver Foundation was registered in April 1996. Its formation was the result of increased interest in the topic of liver diseases in Malaysia after a regional conference, and the encouragement of the Malaysian Prime Minister, YA Bhg. Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad, who was concerned about the implications hepatitis and liver cancer had for the nation.

Once a group of committed specialists from the Malaysian Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology had agreed to form the MLF, they invited the Prime Minister to become the Foundation's Patron and were delighted when he accepted.

Since then, the Foundation has worked to educate the Malaysian public and health-care providers about liver diseases, particularly hepatitis and liver cancer.