The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) announced yesterday that it has begun investigations into allegations on the online sale of fake COVID-19 digital vaccination certificates. The alleged sale of the counterfeit item was recently made viral on Facebook, which also caught the attention of the Ministry of Health (MOH).
Despite being labelled as “digital”, the fake certificates are sold as plastic identification cards that contain details such as an individual’s identity, as well as the location and dates of vaccination. All of which resemble the contents displayed on MySejahtera’s actual digital certificate, sans the accompanying QR code that verifies the information. According to a screenshot of the fake certificate’s listing shared by a Facebook user, each card is sold at RM15. However, the origin of the listing and the seller’s identity was not disclosed.
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Abdul Jalil Hassan said investigations are currently being conducted under Section 22 (d) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1988. In the same statement, he also urged the public to not get involved in falsifying and selling counterfeit digital vaccination certificates, and to also report any information relating to the incident to the nearest police stations.
Meanwhile, MOH deputy minister Dr Noor Azmi Ghazli noted that action would be taken by the ministry’s Inspectorate and Legal Unit against the parties involved. He also emphasised that the ministry does not make any procurement to issue certificates in the form of plastic cards and individuals are required to present their digital vaccination certificates via the MySejahtera app in order to be verified at eateries or cross-district borders. Noor Azmi warned utilising fake certification would also risk non-fully vaccinated individuals to potentially endanger themselves and other Malaysians into contacting COVID-19.
With that, we would like to remind our readers to not engage in selling or purchasing fake vaccination documents, or any illegal activities in general. To those who’ve yet to receive their vaccination, please remain patient and vigilant until the opportunity arrives. And for those who have completed their doses and received their certification, continue to practice physical distancing and it is highly advisable that you only leave your home when it is necessary. Vaccines grant better resistance against the disease but not complete immunity, therefore you can still contract it and risk spreading it to others around you.
(Source: Astro Awani / Bernama)
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