Kuala Lumpur: The Private Higher Educational Institutions Act 1996, or Act 555, has been deemed sufficient to address the issue of fake academic certificates being awarded by universities, as stated in the Dewan Negara today. Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir assured that the current legal framework, which includes penalties of up to RM200,000 or two years’ imprisonment or both for offenders, is adequate to curb such activities.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr Zambry’s comments came in response to a supplementary question from Senator Dr Lingeshwaran R. Arunasalam during a Senate Q and A session. The senator had inquired whether Act 555 required amendments to enforce stricter measures on this issue. While Dr Zambry supported the notion of an open audit for high-ranking government officials to prevent the use of fake certificates, he maintained that the existing law is adequate.

Addressing the broader concern of fake Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in Malaysia, Dr Zambry stated that the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT) has not received any reports regarding institutions issuing fake PhDs. He emphasized that public universities maintain comprehensive databases on graduates, including PhD holders, which are routinely submitted to the KPT for verification.

Dr Zambry further elaborated on the Ministry’s efforts to enhance transparency, highlighting the development of a system on the Graduate Reference Hub for Employment and Training portal. This system facilitates the search for information on honorary and doctorate degree recipients from both public and private universities. The database is regularly updated after receiving approvals from university senates, providing a reliable reference for any verification needs.