Fake certificates : Tertiary institutions not doing enough to check authenticity

Tertiary institutions have been slammed because they did not give a thorough response when asked to check the authenticity of potential candidates' certificates before offering them a job.

Reports indicate that Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) Executive Director Shamsuddin Bardan is quoted as saying,

"Ideally employers should be checking with the university stated on the certificates." It is said that many a Malaysian are still using fake degrees to get jobs.

A reluctance in not giving the information requested is among the leading causes employers do not check the authenticity of such certificates. He suggested that employees undergo background checks after signing a personal data agreement with the company.

Former Universiti Malaya Vice-Chancellor Prof Ghauth Jasmon said those who produce bogus degrees should be jailed. He said the practice of producing fake certificates was considered cheating, and it was “absolutely wrong and should be considered a criminal case”.

Fake certificates are rampant in Malaysia. Out of desperation for job or better pay, many Malaysians have resorted to buying them. Such certificate prices range from a few hundreds to thousands of ringgit, depending on the “courses taken”.

Those found with fake certificates can be charged under Section 420 of the Penal Code (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property).The punishment is imprisonment of between 1 and 10 years, with whipping and a fine imposed.