The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and the Ministry of Health Malaysia (KKM) have been urged to investigate a company accused of offering fake aesthetic and cosmetic medical training courses while unlawfully using the name of Universiti Malaya (UM).
MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau chief Michael Chong said his office had received complaints from five alleged victims who claimed to have lost more than RM100,000 each after being deceived by the company.
According to Chong, the victims only realised they had been scammed after receiving certificates bearing UM’s logo and name without authorisation.
“All the certificates and recognitions used were found to be fake. They used the names and images of well-known institutions, including UM, to convince participants to join the courses,” he said during a press conference at Wisma MCA.
He added that the courses were conducted in hotels instead of approved medical facilities, despite involving needles, injections and medical equipment typically restricted to licensed clinics or hospitals.
Three female victims were present during the press conference alongside Registered Aesthetic Doctors Association Malaysia president Ungku Mohd Shahrin Ungku Mohd Zaman and MCA National Public Services and Complaints Bureau deputy chief Ivan Tan.
Chong claimed that participants allegedly paid between RM100,000 and RM180,000 for the courses, with some reportedly facing threats from debt collection agents after failing to settle the full course fees.
He also expressed concern that similar programmes were still ongoing despite previous media exposure.
“We want the police, Health Ministry and Higher Education Ministry to thoroughly investigate how such activities could continue,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ungku Mohd Shahrin stressed that only medical practitioners registered with the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) and holding a Letter of Credentialing and Privileging (LCP) are legally allowed to perform aesthetic medical procedures in Malaysia.
He explained that substances such as Botox and injection-based treatments fall under the Poisons Act 1952 and can only be handled by qualified medical professionals.
“There is no issue with learning aesthetic theory, but once procedures are performed on humans, strict regulations and laws apply,” he said.
He also criticised the use of hotel venues for practical medical training, pointing out that such locations lack emergency medical equipment and proper healthcare facilities required to handle complications.
“If an emergency happens, hotels do not have emergency trolleys or immediate treatment equipment like clinics and hospitals,” he added.
Earlier on May 14, Universiti Malaya denied any involvement in offering or collaborating on aesthetic and beauty-related courses following reports linking the university’s name and logo to the certificates issued.
On the same day, the International Certified Aestheticians Association Malaysia (AICA) reportedly stated that the aesthetic course modules conducted by the company did not fall under the jurisdiction of higher education laws or MMC regulations.
