In a statement, Dr Boo Cheng Hau said it was a requirement under the Medical Act 1971 for all council members to be fully registered medical practitioners with valid APCs.

“I urge both the health ministry and the higher education ministry to do the necessary investigations and refer the matter to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) to protect the law of the land and public interest, and uphold the integrity of the medical fraternity,” he said.

Asked how he had arrived at the conclusion that many council members did not hold valid APCs, Boo said he had conducted online searches through the Medical Register Information and Technical System.

He said if MMC members do not possess an APC, they are not deemed to be “fully registered practitioners” and hence are not qualified to sit on the council.

“It is reminded that the MMC is supposed to be a self-governing statutory body with disciplinary jurisdiction over current medical practitioners.

“Therefore, it is reasonable and lawful to require all council members to be law-abiding and to observe the disciplines imposed by the council itself,” he said.

He also said that the health ministry should consult the AGC on whether a medical council consisting of a vast majority of non-fully registered medical practitioners, in contravention of the Medical Act, would be deemed to be lawfully constituted.

This also implies that decisions made by the current MMC could be rendered illegal and not legally binding, said Boo.

“The higher education ministry should also be made aware that no university medical lecturer can legally be allowed to perform clinical procedures on a patient (while in teaching) without a fully valid and current APC.”

FMT has reached out to the MMC for comment.