KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) will lead investigations into a syndicate allegedly selling fake medical certificates (MCs) using the identities of registered doctors and private clinics amid concerns that the operation may have involved insiders.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad described the case as serious, adding that the syndicate, which was believed to have been operating since 2016, exploited the credentials of legitimate healthcare practitioners.
“We will take this matter seriously.
“This syndicate allegedly falsified the names of registered private clinics, while the names and professional registration numbers of doctors were stolen and misused,” he told reporters following the Cik Era Naik MRT programme on Saturday (20 June).
Dzulkefly said the Health Ministry and the MMC were treating the matter with utmost urgency, with the council taking the lead in the investigation.
"This is not only a concern for the ministry. The MMC is also looking at this very seriously and I am very sure it will come out with a clarification as soon as possible.
"The MMC will lead the charge on this investigation," he said.
He also said the council would work closely with enforcement agencies to determine how the syndicate had managed to operate for years and whether there were any internal elements involved.
"They will cooperate with the authorities to investigate possible internal involvement and other aspects related to the case," he said.
Dzulkefly warned that the misuse of doctors' identities and professional registration credentials could erode public trust in the healthcare system.
The alleged syndicate is believed to have operated through a website offering fake MCs while impersonating legitimate doctors and registered clinics without their knowledge or consent.
In a related development, Dzulkefly said the ministry would not tolerate ethical misconduct following the arrest and remand of a nurse in Pekan, Pahang, over a separate fake MC case.
"The case is under police investigation and we will not compromise if any wrongdoing is found.
"From an ethical standpoint, misconduct of this nature is a very serious matter and we will take appropriate action," he said.
He also urged the public to allow investigations to run their course before drawing conclusions.
Dzulkefly further stressed that nurses are not authorised to issue MCs.
"An MC can only be issued by the attending physician, medical officer or a registered medical practitioner.
"That is a very clear requirement," he explained.
Dzulkefly said the recent cases could accelerate efforts to introduce digital MCs as a safeguard against forgery and abuse.
"I am confident that our Digital Health Division is actively advancing digitalisation efforts, and this is the way forward to address the misuse of MCs," he said.
He added that the ministry would immediately study additional measures to strengthen the integrity of the MC issuance system.
Separately, Dzulkefly revealed that 402 cases involving vape products containing prohibited substances had been reported nationwide as of April this year, bolstering calls for tighter regulation and possible restrictions.
"This is a serious matter. Reports from the Home Ministry and police investigations into these incidents have shown that laboratory analyses found synthetic methamphetamine and other prohibited substances in vape liquids," he said.
According to the minister, the findings highlighted growing concerns over vape use among minors and the presence of illicit substances in vape products.
"As of April 2026, there have been 402 reported cases involving vapes containing prohibited substances.
"The fact that drugs have been found in vape products provides a strong argument for stricter action," he said.
When asked whether the government was considering a ban on vape products, Dzulkefly said the matter remained under active review.
"This cannot be handled by one ministry alone. It requires cooperation across the government to ensure effective enforcement, regulation and public awareness," he said.
