SHAH ALAM: Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya today maintained that he never supported the bogus dentist, who was fined RM70,000 by a Melaka Sessions Court for running an unregistered private dental clinic.
He, however, said that as the Balik Pulau Member of Parliament, he did extend Nur Farahanis Ezatty Adli’s appeal letter to the ministry's Oral Health Division director for consideration.
“I was only doing my duty as an MP by acting upon an appeal letter submitted to me,” he explained today.
Hilmi was commenting on Nur Farahanis’ claims on social media that she had received the "support" from the Health Ministry and Dr Hilmi.
“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.
“I only extended her appeal letter to the Oral Health Division director.
“But, I was later informed that the case has been taken to court. Hence, I did not interfere (with the court's decision). That (assisting Nur Farahanis) is no longer the case,” he told reporters after launching the 4th Kuala Lumpur Hospital Burn Seminar 2017 here today.
In an Instagram post, Nur Farahanis had claimed that her “business” was approved and granted by the Health Ministry and expressed gratitude to both Dr Hilmi and his private secretary, Aziaan Ariffin.
On Sept 29, Nur Farahanis was fined RM70,000 by the Sessions Court in Melaka for running a private dental clinic, which was not registered under Section 27 of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998.
She, however, was sentenced to six months in jail for failing to pay the fine, but was then released from prison after serving only six days.
It was reported that several non-governmental organisations and members of the public had raised money to pay for the fine.
Meanwhile, Dr Hilmi said two of the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah tahfiz school fire tragedy victims, Zunnun Misri and Indera Kurniawan were still receiving treatment at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital for burns.
The third victim, Muhammad Shahir Sharifuddin, was warded in the Paediatric intensive care unit.
“They are recovering well and will be discharged by next week,” he added.
On Sept 14, a fire broke out at the tahfiz centre in Keramat. Of the 23 people who died, 21 were students and two were wardens-cum-teachers.
Investigators later established that the fire, which started at the entrance to the third floor dormitory, occurred under suspicious circumstances.
Police arrested seven suspects, aged between 12 and 18. It was later established that the teens had torched the building as a form of revenge, after being embroiled in an argument with some of the tahfiz students.
Two of the underage youths, both aged 16-years-old, were charged with murder while the others were charged with self-administration of drugs.