KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10 — Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya has admitted today forwarding bogus dentist Nur Farahanis Ezatty Adli’s appeal letter to authorities, after denying that he or anyone from the ministry has endorsed or supported her.
New Straits Times (NST) reported Dr Hilmi saying that he extended her letter to the Health Ministry’s Oral Health Division director “for consideration”, citing his duty as Balik Pulau MP.
“I was only doing my duty as an MP by acting upon an appeal letter submitted to me,” he reportedly said.
“This is not an issue. I do not condone her action, nor do I support her. I was only doing my duty as a Member of Parliament to help those who are seeking my assistance,” he added.
Dr Hilmi had earlier released a statement of denial after messages on social media alleging he and his private secretary Aziaan Ariffin had shown his support for Nur Farahanis, 20.
The woman was sentenced by the Melaka Sessions Court on September 29 for running a private dental clinic which was not registered under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998.
Nur Farahanis served six days of her six-month jail term for failing to pay a RM70,000 fine.
The fine was later settled by a biker gang and the Malaysia Islamic Economic Activist Organisation (PPEM) that ran a public campaign to raise funds for Nur Farahanis to pay the fine.
She was also supported by the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM), that yesterday denied any responsibility for the fundraiser.
In response to the campaign, the Malaysian Association of Orthodontists said the move sent the wrong message to the public.
