KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 30 ― Tendering false medical certificates (MCs) is an act of graft comparable to making fraudulent claims, according to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

MACC community education division officer Mohamad Tarmize Abdul Manaf said it was an offence under Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009 that prohibits the submission of claims documents, like receipts or invoices, which contain false details.

“Did you know that submitting a witness certificate or MC can be an act of corruption? It’s an offence under the category of submitting false claims,” Tarmize wrote on MACC’s blog, Monday.

The MACC officer highlighted the 1972 case of Nadimuthu v Public Prosecutor, in which a Malayan Railways worker was convicted and fined under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1961 for submitting two MCs for two days’ sick leave that were found to be false as he was not ill on those dates.

Local daily The Star reported today MACC deputy chief commissioner (prevention) Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali as saying that submitting false claims to employers was an offence and punishable under Section 24 of the MACC Act with imprisonment for up to 20 years and a fine.

The Star also reported the Malaysian Employers Federation as saying that it was easier for companies to take internal action against employees who submit fake MCs instead of going to the MACC.