The Higher Education Ministry is working with the public universities on a guideline concerning the false use of the doctorate degree title, said its Minister Idris Jusoh.

He said besides looking at how the award was so easily conferred, the joint effort would also look at the possibility of making the act a crime.

"Actually, this has been going on for a long time, and does not involve just one individual but also several other known names.

"That is why I have discussed this with the universities and the ministry is looking at all views before drawing up a guideline on how to handle cases like this," he said in a press conference held after a dialogue session with the National Professors' Council and presenting appointment letters to 20 new council members for two years today.

Also present were council chairperson Prof Zakri Abdul Hamid, his deputy Eminent Professor Shamsul Amri and the council's chief executive officer Prof Raduan Che Rose.

The issue of the use of false PhD titles became a hot topic after the case involving the founder of Richworks International Sdn Bhd, Azizan Osman, who admitted to possessing an honorary doctorate degree in entrepreneurship from Universiti Malaya (UM).

The university has subsequently denied ever conferring him the title.

Idris said the false PhD claims could involve any university, which was why the ministry needed at least three months to get more views before issuing a guideline on the matter.

Asked if the case was a criminal act, he said: "We will look at how to define this matter."

In a separate development, Idris expressed his appreciation to the council for its role in contributing views to the government in drawing up policies aimed at ensuring the country continues to develop economically and socio-culturally.

He said the council's success in mobilising 2,600 professors under one body to work together to play a role as national thinkers had been beneficial to the people as this is hardly seen in other countries.

- Bernama