KGBS wants authorities to curtail use of fake PhDs

SIBU: Sarawak Bumiputera Teachers Union ( KGBS) has called on the authorities to curtail the use of fake academic titles to uphold the integrity and professionalism of genuine Doctor of Philosophy ( PhD) holders.

KGBS made the call in response to the recent warning from Minister of Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing Datuk Fatimah Abdullah that those who obtained fake PhD could be charged and that the state government was looking into claims of fraudulent tertiary titles seriously.

Fatimah’s reaction came following the recent announcement of the Ministry of Higher Education that it planned to set up a national directory that would automatically register those who graduated with a doctorate degree from local universities.

The ministry reportedly said the move was in accordance with the University and University Colleges Act 1971 (Act 30) and the Private Higher Educational Institutions Act (Act 555) to regulate the use of the title ‘Dr’ which it acknowledged to be the most commonly abused academic qualification locally.

To this, KGBS president Ahmad Malie said: “KGBS supports and in sync with YB Datuk Fatimah Abdullah’s distaste with the trend of certain individuals who obtained fake doctorate degree as they clamour for the ‘Dr’ title to portray themselves in their respective fields.

“In this regard, KGBS urge the relevant authority to tackle the issue effectively because it can lower the integrity and professionalism of someone obtaining their PhD qualifications through valid means.”

He noted that the public knew that PhD was the pinnacle of educational and intellectual pursuit.

Therefore, to obtain such qualification would necessitate one to go through a labourous process and not through shortcuts like fake PhD degree.

Adding on, he said: “KGBS really hopes for the issue to be curtailed effectively so as to uphold the dignity as well as intellectual quality of individuals who obtain their PhD through legal means besides ensuring the level of education in the country is always recognised at international level.”

Meanwhile, it is reported that the registry was set up after questions were raised over the academic qualifications of a prominent motivational speaker Azizan Osman, whose website previously stated he had been conferred upon several doctorates from local and foreign universities but his claim was refuted first by Universiti Malaya ( UM) and later by those other universities that he named.