Home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail revealed that the syndicate operates both locally and internationally, producing fake documents that mimic official verification from registered private healthcare facilities.

“These documents are used to obtain legitimate birth certificates from the national registration department which are then sold on the black market to grant citizenship status to undocumented children,” he told a press conference at the department’s headquarters here today.

He said the syndicate is believed to be involved in trafficking undocumented foreign children and selling them to prospective parents.

Yesterday, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission deputy chief (operations) Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya said two operations, codenamed Op Outlander and Op Birth, had been launched against the syndicate on Tuesday.

The operations saw raids conducted on several premises, including clinics and law firms, in Johor and the Klang Valley.

Khusairi said MACC arrested a civil servant believed to have facilitated late birth registrations, a medical practitioner with the “Datuk Seri” title, three suspects acting as agents for the syndicate, and six applicants of the services offered.

He said a lawyer who allegedly acted as an intermediary between the agent and applicants was also detained.

Saifuddin said the home ministry launched Op Tumpang in collaboration with MACC after a year-long intelligence operation, leading to simultaneous raids in Putrajaya, Selangor, Penang and Perak.

Authorities also seized RM54,000, believed to be proceeds from the illegal activity.

The case is being investigated under Section 36(1)(b) of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1957, which carries a maximum fine of RM20,000, up to three years in prison, or both, upon conviction.

MACC chief Azam Baki yesterday said the anti-graft agency will analyse processes within the national registration department.