MBPP mayor warns staff on fake MCs, says its a crime

The Penang Island City Council (MPBB) has won many accolades in the past including the Asean Clean Tourist City Standard for 2020-2022.

Yet it also faces challenges in terms of misconduct by its human resources.

So far, the MBPP has sacked 58 of its workers who have not complied with rules and regulations including being absent from work and providing false medical certificates (MCs).

MBPP mayor Yew Tung Seang said the council will not hesitate to sack staff who are involved in such misconduct.

Yew said there were news reports that a medical clinic in Penang was allegedly selling fake MCs for RM10 each.

"We do not want to be known as an island that sells false MCs for RM10," said Yew during his speech at a meeting with MBPP staff in George Town.

"Since Jan 1, 2019, those involved in using false MCs will not only be hauled up for misconduct but it will be deemed a police case, a crime, as well," Yew warned.

"So please be informed, we do not want our officers to be involved in such cases".

In July last year, police detained two men who sold fake government hospital MCs for RM25 each, profiting between RM10 to RM15 for each certificate.

The case was investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating under which those convicted can face a jail term of up to 10 years, fined or both.

Meanwhile, Yew said the council must also address complaints that the city is not as clean as it aspires to be.

He said MBPP must continue to live up to its four basic principles in making and keeping the island "clean, green, healthy and safe".

"We take the reports from anyone (in the media or from NGOs like the Consumers Association of Penang) positively and try to overcome them together," he said.

"Our target is to become the cleanest city in Malaysia and Asia," he said.

"This year, MBPP also won the Climathon Global Award (City Category) Champion on Jan 31 in Paris," added Yew.

Last year, among others, Penang's City Park won the International Large Urban Parks Award (Bronze) in Russia.

Last October, MBPP obtained five stars for excellence in financial accounting (Auditor-General's Index) from the Audit Department, he said.

According to the report, MBPP achieved a 95.05 percent excellence rate in its financial management.

MBPP received the highest marks among 10 other state agencies in Penang, noted Yew. - mkini