Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has urged the MACC to arrest Deputy Health Minister Dr Hilmi Yahaya over his alleged support for a bogus dentist, who was fined RM70,000 by a Malacca Sessions Court for running an unregistered private dental clinic.

“MACC should arrest Hilmi to determine whether (he) had abused his powers in trying to 'help' a bogus dentist who was practising illegally,” Lim said in a statement today.

He claimed that Hilmi's initial denial of supporting Nur Farahanis Ezatty's unlicensed dental practice has been “exposed as a lie,” given the deputy minister's admission to having forwarded an appeal letter from her to the Oral Health Division of the Health Ministry.

Hilmi, who is the MP for Balik Pulau, argued that he was merely doing his duty as an elected representative after the appeal letter was submitted to him.

However, the deputy minister maintained that he never supported the bogus dentist.

Gratitude expressed to Hilmi and his aide

According to the New Straits Times, Nur Farahanis had said in an Instagram post that her unlicensed dental practice was approved by the Health Ministry and expressed her gratitude to Hilmi and his aide.

Meanwhile, Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general, said the MACC must act against Hilmi to prove that the commission is impartial when it comes to politicians.

He noted how Penang state exco Phee Boon Poh, who was investigated by MACC over an illegal factory in the state, was arrested.

“After all, Phee was also doing his duty as an elected representative when he sent the appeal letters, and yet he was arrested.

“There is, therefore, no reason for MACC not to arrest Hilmi. Failure to arrest Hilmi, as MACC had done to Phee, can lead to suspicions of double-standards that may undermine public confidence in (its) credibility,” Lim added.