Malaysians have died from botched organ transplants in China, a National Kidney Foundation official said according to a report today, after Japan said it was investigating at least seven deaths.

The foundation's vice-chairperson Zaki Morad Zaher told the New Straits Times that he was aware of a number of patients who went for transplant operations in China and died there or after returning home, due to complications.

"We do not have the exact numbers because almost all of them go on their own for the organ transplants, mainly kidney transplants," Zaki told the daily.

Zaki, who is the Health Ministry's consultant nephrologist, said he learned of the deaths from colleagues in the private and public sectors whose patients had opted to have transplants in China.

Unsuited for surgery

The New Straits Times said that many of the Malaysians who went to China for transplants were elderly, unwell, and unsuited for major surgery.

Japan's Health Ministry said Monday it is investigating human organ transplants in China after a report that at least seven Japanese died due to treatment there.

Jiji Press news agency said that the patients were in their 30s to 50s and died in Shanghai, the northeastern city of Shenyang and the southern city of Changsha from early 2004 to February 2006.

China has an increasingly lucrative transplant industry but it is tainted by allegations that the organs of executed prisoners are harvested and sold to hospitals.