By Yee Mei
KUCHING, Oct 3: The National Consumer Action Council (MTPN) Sarawak Branch warns members of the public to be vigilant about a beauty centre in Kuching providing unlicenced stem cell transplant therapy that was believed to have resulted in the death of a client.
MTPN Sarawak Branch president Wynson Ong said they received complaints from family members of the deceased patient about the Kuching-based beauty centre, which is in a long-term collaboration with a doctor from Peninsular Malaysia.
“It is suspected that the treatment did not conform to the standard or proper procedure, resulting in the patient’s death,” he said in a press conference at Saradise today, adding that the victim received treatment last year in October but died halfway through the treatment in December.
He disclosed that after a thorough investigation, it was discovered that the beauty centre and said doctor are not registered with the required licences to provide such services.
“At the same time, it was discovered that in 2017, the doctor was also charged under Section 4(1) of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586), whereby he pleaded guilty. The Sessions Court at Kuching sentenced him to a fine of RM160,000 in default of three months’ imprisonment under Section 5(1)(b) of Act 586.
“Later, in 2019, the said doctor was found guilty by the Malaysian Medical Council whereby his practising licence was ordered to be suspended for two years with a fine of RM130,000. In view that the suspension period has lapsed, the said doctor is ‘back on the street’,” he said.
Regarding the current complaint, he said MTPN had reported the beauty centre to the Health Ministry (MOH) for operating illegally and providing treatments without the requisite licences.
“MOH has cooperated with us, and two meetings were held. Subsequently, the ministry has taken necessary actions to investigate, and the beauty centre is currently closed temporarily.”
He said they recently received a report from another consumer who also signed up for and was undergoing treatment provided by the beauty centre.
He explained that upon discovering that the beauty centre had suddenly closed and that its customer service suggested receiving the invasive treatments and services at the consumer’s home, the consumer sought advice from MTPN for the unusual occurrences.
“It is astounding that the said doctor is not remorseful but, instead, is presumptuous and unconscionable. Furthermore, we discovered that the said unscrupulous doctor is opening a sizeable ‘wellness centre’ in a hotel in the Kuching city centre, which, as of now, there is no procurement of the requisite licences.
“Therefore, we and the deceased’s family would like to raise public awareness to be more vigilant and to avoid other consumers falling victim (to the beauty centre).
“In addition, we urge anyone who encounters similar circumstances to come forward and lodge a report,” he said. — DayakDaily
