ASIDE from allegation of nepotism, newly minted Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari (main image, left) has found himself in the firing line with detractors harping on his unethical use of medical doctor title in his name.
Succeeding Hannah Yeoh (main image, right) who has moved to the Federal Territories Ministry, the 29-year-old PKR Sungai Petani MP who is also the son of Dewan Rakyat speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul is currently the youngest MP in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar’s Ibrahim’s latest Cabinet line-up.
Referring to his 15th General Election (GE15) curriculum vitae (CV), Madani critic Datuk Eric See-To pointed to the fact that Universitas Islam Bandung where Taufiq obtained his medical degree from is not recognised by the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) nor had he listed as a registered medical practitioner with MMC.
“The records and chronology submitted by him and his party (PKR) also didn’t show that he ever underwent housemanship in Malaysia even for a day yet he continues to work as a GP in a clinic,” revealed the former Barisan Nasional (BN) strategic communication deputy director om his Facebook page.
“Housemanship undertaken abroad is not taken into account for the purpose of registration and eligibility to practice as a doctor in Malaysia.
“According to MMC regulations, housemanship must be done in Malaysia and carried out in a training hospital approved by the Malaysian Health Ministry (MOH) and MMC.”
Opposition activist Badrul Hisham Shaharin a.k.a. Chegubard claimed that he had brought up the matter during the 2022 national polls.
“A search was made during the last general election campaign in addition to the Indonesian medical doctor registry whereby his name didn’t exist,” penned the Central Bersatu information committee member on his FB page.
“I would like to seek explanation from the minister as to why you’re still using the ‘Dr’ title when your name isn’t listed on the MMC website? The use of a false title is a crime under Section 416 of the Penal Code which is punishable by fines and imprisonment.”
However, a public health officer with the MOH defended Taufiq by contending that “using the ‘Dr’ title and practicing as a medical doctor in Malaysia are two different things”.
“When someone graduates from a university that offers medical courses, the institution can award the title ‘Dr’ to the student. This is despite Universitas Islam Bandung not listed in Schedule 2 of the Medical Act 1971 (Amendment 2012),” argued Dr Khairul Hafidz Alkhair Khairul Amin in a FB post.
“When not listed in Schedule 2, the university is not recognised by the MMC and graduates from that university cannot make a Provisional Registration. However, this doesn’t prevent a person from continuing to use the title ‘Dr’.”
Added Dr Khairul who is attached to MOH’s policy and public health service section:
It’s different if you want to practice as a medical doctor in Malaysia. A person needs to obtain Provisional Registration, then Full Registration and finally an Annual Practising Certificate (APC) before he’s allowed to practice.
In Taufiq’s case, he isn’t actively practicing, so he doesn’t commit any offence unless there is evidence that he is practicing and a complaint is made to the MMC whereby he can be subject to action under the Medical Act 1971.
So, in conclusion, there is no issue with Taufiq wanting to use the “Dr” title. It doesn’t violate the Medical Act 1971.” – Focus Malaysia
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