MACC should quiz Hilmi for power abuse
> Guan Eng calls for deputy minister to be probed over ‘support’ for fake dentist
GEORGE TOWN: The Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) should arrest Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya to investigate possible abuse of power over his “support” of an illegal dentist.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said this would prove that MACC acts impartially and professionally against all politicians, whether they are from Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Harapan.
He said there is a stronger basis for MACC to arrest Hilmi when he “intervened” in his own ministry as compared to Penang Exco Phee Boon Poh, who was arrested in August despite making a request to a department not under Phee’s portfolio.
“For this reason, MACC must immediately arrest and investigate Hilmi for improperly “supporting” a fake dentist, who was fined RM70,000 for practising dentistry without a licence, by appealing on her behalf.
“In the interests of upholding the law to ensure there is fair play and political neutrality without double-standards, MACC should arrest Hilmi to determine whether Hilmi had abused his powers in trying to “help” a bogus dentist who was practising illegally,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Lim also questioned why the Balik Pulau MP was afraid of calls made by him to MACC for an investigation.
“Why does he have to make personal attacks against me? Has he got something to hide?” he said.
Hilmi explained his situation differed from that of Phee, adding that Phee’s letters were a directive while his merely sought an explanation.
“Hilmi’s explanation is nonsensical because the Health Ministry would have to act when there is “intervention” from their own deputy health minister, unlike Phee, whose letter was to the Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai, which is not under Phee’s jurisdiction,” he said.
Last week in a press conference, Hilmi admitted that a friend of his had met him about helping the woman.
He said, in his capacity as a member of parliament, he made a call to the ministry director-general and asked whether the woman could be reprimanded with only a fine.
At that point, Hilmi said he was informed that the matter had become a criminal investigation and had been taken to court.
Nur Farahanis Ezatty Adli, who was found guilty by the sessions court in Malacca for running an unregistered private dental clinic, had received support from Hilmi and his private secretary, Aziaan Ariffin.