PARLIAMENT | A DAP lawmaker has claimed that there are parliamentarians with fake academic qualifications, including Master's degrees and doctorates.

"(Certain) Yang Berhormat in this House hold fake academic degrees, not only doctorate degrees, but also master's degrees," he said without naming any lawmaker during the question and answer session in the Dewan Rakyat.

The Serdang MP suggested that lawmakers with doctorate degrees prove that their qualifications were genuine.

"This will give a good impression to the rakyat that we, as lawmakers ourselves, do not hold fake degrees," he added.

Deputy Higher Education Minister Mary Yap concurred with Ong, saying she was all for academic integrity.

She called for those with evidence of fake academic credentials to lodge reports so that the ministry and police can take action.

To this, Ong stood up and said: "I will provide the evidence."

Meanwhile, Yap said the government will set up a database to include details of legitimate doctorate holders who graduated from public universities.

"This would enable members of the public to review and confirm their status," she said.

Yap added that the ministry has been working with Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to curb the abuse of obtaining academic qualifications via internet.