GEORGE TOWN – What is usually a calm atmosphere at the Penang chief minister’s press conference became tense today when DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng hurled criticism at the federal government for rejecting two million Covid-19 vaccine doses from a private company.
Lim, who was invited to today’s press conference, blurted “kepala otak dia” (what are they thinking) in reference to the Perikatan Nasional (PN) federal government’s move.
He also described PN’s rejection of the vaccines as a crime.
“Political donations are allowed, vaccine donations are not allowed. Kepala otak dia!
“I’m sorry, I’m very angry. How can this happen? If we receive two million doses of the vaccine, we can save many people,” Lim said in Komtar today.
Earlier, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow revealed that the Penang government had in February received a donation of two million vaccine doses from a private company as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme.
However, the state government’s application to accept the vaccine, which was made through an official letter to the secretary-general of the Health Ministry, was rejected on March 12.
The rejection was made on the grounds that the government had already designed and implemented a nationwide Covid-19 immunisation programme.
In a statement this afternoon, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin had said that states are allowed to purchase vaccine supplies on their own, with the condition that the vaccines obtain approval from the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA).
The coordinating minister for the national vaccination programme had said that he welcomes all efforts from states and the private sector to buy vaccines and inoculate the public.
He had also pointed out that vaccines from three companies – Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Sinovac – that have been approved by Putrajaya can be channelled to states only after they are first delivered to the federal government.
Meanwhile, Chow questioned whether the donation can still be accepted.
“I want to ask again, can the government approve the contribution of this vaccine again?
“If it is allowed, it can benefit the people and save government costs,” added Chow.
He also said the offer from the private company – which did not want to be named – was still open, and that the Penang government is awaiting Putrajaya’s permission to accept the vaccine.
Lim, who is also former Penang chief minister, said the state should accept the offer anyway for the benefit of the people.
“I want to suggest to the state government that we just take the vaccine.
“Let it be confiscated by the government because we want to know why this (vaccine donation) is not allowed,” he said.
Meanwhile, on the setting up of a field ICU at Kepala Batas Hospital, Chow said the state government has held meetings with the relevant agencies on the need for such a facility.
He said its construction is expected to cost RM2.038 million and involve the purchase of electrical, mechanical and medical equipment.
“The state government will support the construction of the field ICU and the technical team will also work hard so that we can add 27 more ICU beds there,” he said. – The Vibes, May 18, 2021
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