Govt approves amendments to free up funds for vaccines

KUALA LUMPUR – The government has approved amendments to the National Trust Fund Act 1988 (Act 339), which frees up funds to be used for the procurement of vaccines – including Covid-19 jabs – and any expenditure incurred in relation to the vaccinations.

This is based on the Emergency (National Trust Fund) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021, which comes into operation today, through the federal government gazette published by the Attorney-General’s Chambers today.

The ordinance, amended in Section 6, was promulgated by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, on April 14 pursuant to Clause (2B) of Article 150 of the federal constitution.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is satisfied that immediate action is required to amend the National Trust Fund Act 1988.

The new subsection states that “the procurement of vaccines and any expenditure incurred in relation to the vaccines for an epidemic of any infectious disease as specified under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342)”.

On January 12, Istana Negara, in a statement, announced that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong consented to the emergency being implemented nationwide until August 1, as a measure to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the country. – Bernama, April 21, 2021