KUALA LUMPUR: A database containing the names of individuals who hold valid doctorate degrees (PhDs) from public universities will soon be created, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Mary Yap Kain Ching said the system will not only include the names of PhD holders, but also the holder’s public university (from which their degree was awarded), field of study, subject of thesis, and year of graduation.
"This initiative is (to allow the) public to check and verify the PhD status of an individual," Yap said in response to a question from Datuk Ahmad Fauzi Zahari (BN-Setiawangsa) in Parliament this morning.
She said the ministry is collaborating with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to tackle cases of fake doctorates in the country, adding that the commission will block the websites of parties offering fake PhDs.
"The public can also lodge reports with the MCMC or the police if they come across such websites, or individuals who hold fake doctorates," Yap added.