Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya today refuted claims that he had supported a bogus dentist, who was fined RM70,000

Hilmi counters claims of bogus Melaka dentist

BALVIN KAUR
New Straits Times9 October 2017



GEORGE TOWN: Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya today refuted claims that he had supported a bogus dentist, who was fined RM70,000 by a Melaka Sessions Court for running an unregistered private dental clinic.

Dr Hilmi said he never met nor spoken to the 20-year-old but had initially heard of her situation from a friend.

“One of my friends brought her case before me asking me if I, as a member of parliament, could provide some assistance to her.

“Even though I am a member of parliament of the Balik Pulau consistency it was my duty to help people all over the nation, so I checked with the ministry if there was space to merely compound the woman as it was her first offence.




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Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya says he never met nor spoken to the Nur Farahanis Ezatty Adli. Pic by AMIR IRSYAD OMAR

“However, I was told there was no space for such an action and that the woman would have to be taken to court.

“I left it at that and was not involved in her situation further,” he told reporters here when asked to comment Nur Farahanis Ezatty Adli’s claims on social media that she had received support from Dr Hilmi.

In an Instagram post, Nur Farahanis claimed that her “business” was approved and granted to her by the Health Ministry. She also expressed her gratitude to both Dr Hilmi and his private secretary, Aziaan Ariffin.




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The instagram post was reportedly taken down.

On Sept 29, Nur Farahanis was fined RM70,000 by the Sessions Court in Melaka for running a private dental clinic, which was not registered under Section 27 of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998.

She, however, was released from prison after serving only six days out of her six-month jail term for failing to pay a court fine.

The Malaysian Muslim Consumers’ Association (PPIM) and Malaysia Islamic Economic Activist Organisation (PPEM), in reading about Nur Farahanis’ plight in the media, had raised funds to pay the fine.

Dr Hilmi also quashed speculations that he had helped fund the payment for Nur Farahanis’s fine.

“I do not have that much money to help pay for her fine,” he added.

He also stressed that neither the Health Minister nor he supported any individuals practising dentistry without a licence.

“We have never supported illegal dentistry, which is a crime in Malaysia.