MACC must arrest Hilmi to prove its impartiality: Lim

GEORGE TOWN: Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) must arrest Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya to investigate possible abuse of power of "supporting" an illegal dentist, said Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
Lim said this would prove that MACC acts impartially and professionally against all politicians, whether they were from Barisan Nasional (BN) or Pakatan Harapan (PH).
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, the MACC must immediately arrest and investigate Hilmi for improperly "supporting" a fake dentist, who was fined RM70,000 for practicing dentistry without a license, by appealing on her behalf.

"In the interests of upholding the law to ensure there is fairplay 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 practicing illegally", he said in a statement today.
Lim also questioned why the Balik Pulau MP was so afraid of Lim's appeals to MACC for an investigation.
"Why does he have to make personal attacks against me? Has he got something to hide?" he asked.
Hilmi explained that his situation differed from Phee's, adding that Phee's letters were a directive while his was merely seeking 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 (MPSP), where MPSPs (are) not under Phee's jurisdiction," he said.

Last week in a press conference, Hilmi admitted that a friend of his did come to see 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 or a compound.
At that point, Hilmi said he was informed that the matter had become a criminal investigation and had been brought to court.
Nur Farahanis Ezatty Adli, who was found guilty by the sessions court in Malacca for running an unregistered private dental clinic, allegedly received support from Hilmi and his private secretary Aziaan Ariffin.