11-3-2025 (KUALA LUMPUR) Malaysian authorities have apprehended two Vietnamese nationals posing as medical professionals who were conducting unlicensed cosmetic procedures from residential premises in the capital.
A coordinated raid by Immigration and Health Department officials targeted two condominium units shortly before midday yesterday, uncovering makeshift surgical facilities where the suspects had been performing various cosmetic enhancement services.
Investigators discovered the unauthorised cosmetic surgery enterprise had been actively promoted through social media platform TikTok, offering treatments including rhinoplasty and eyebrow augmentation with price tags ranging from RM1,000 to RM15,000.
The operation at a Bukit Jalil condominium resulted in the detention of five Vietnamese nationals and one Malaysian citizen, whilst a subsequent raid at a second property in Desa Petaling led to the arrest of four Vietnamese nationals and another local accomplice.
Kuala Lumpur Immigration Director Wan Mohammed Saupee Wan Yusoff confirmed to reporters that two of the Vietnamese detainees had been masquerading as qualified surgeons despite having no medical credentials or authorisation to perform such procedures.
“Our investigation has established that these two residential properties are interconnected operations, though they operated under different company names,” said Wan Mohammed Saupee. “We believe this syndicate has been conducting these dangerous unlicensed procedures for at least twelve months.”
Officials discovered that the monthly rental cost for one of the condominium units was approximately RM2,600.
During the raid in Desa Petaling, authorities apprehended an individual who claimed to work as an agent for the operation, stating: “I receive a commission of five to ten percent for each treatment booked by clients.”
The raid uncovered a rudimentary surgical theatre containing a treatment bed and various surgical implements. In a particularly concerning discovery, officials found surgical tools including scalpels and scissors being stored in an oven underneath a treatment bed.
Health officials expressed serious concerns about the medications found at the premises, which are suspected to have been illegally imported into Malaysia without proper certification or quality control.
