GEORGE TOWN – The Penang government has taken seriously the claim by Science, Technology, and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin that the company that wanted to offer a donation of two million doses of the vaccine to Penangites is a “bogus” and “scam”.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that in this regard, the company and director named by Khairy must come forward to reject the allegations made by the minister.
He said the state government had taken prudent action when receiving the offer of the relevant vaccine through a letter dated February 1, whereby he had sought the views from the state Health Department.
“The state Health Department had then requested that the matter be submitted to the Health Ministry (MoH) for further views and advice.
State secretary Datuk Abdul Razak Jaafar sent a letter dated February 15 to the MoH secretary-general Datuk Mohd Shafiq Abdullah, titled Requesting the Views of the Ministry of Health for the Use of Covid-19 Vaccine for the People of Penang Through Private Company Contributions, he said in a statement today.
However, Chow said the rejection reply given by Mohd Shafiq on March 12 did not touch at all on the issue of the company’s status.
“The Penang government is not able to follow up on this matter because it is unable to submit an approval letter from the MoH to the company to enable them to continue negotiations with the vaccine manufacturer,” he said.
Chow said that the issue was revived following MoH’s action in not approving the application to receive the free vaccine while allowing Sarawak and Selangor to buy the vaccines for the use of their respective states.
“The state government has done its best in this issue because this vaccine offer will be given to the people in order to ensure their safety against the Covid-19.”
Earlier today, Khairy dismissed as bogus an offer by a private company to supply two million Covid-19 vaccine doses to the Penang government.
Khairy’s remarks came after Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng rapped the federal government for rejecting the two million vaccine doses purportedly offered.
Prior to that, Chow had told a press conference yesterday about Penang being offered in February a donation of two million doses from the private firm as part of its corporate social responsibility programme.
Embarrassing day for Penangites
Meanwhile, Gerakan deputy president Oh Tong Keong challenged the chief minister to resign if Khairy’s claim that the company that wanted to offer a donation of two million doses of vaccine to Penangites is “bogus” and a “scam” is proven true.
The state Gerakan chairman also questioned why the state government took up to two months to reveal the issue.
“Gerakan will lodge a police report tomorrow morning so that the truth can be proven to all.”
He also said it was an embarrassing day for Penangites to have the state government lie.
“This is a very serious matter. As a Penangite, I am shocked when the state government becomes embroiled in vaccine scams.
“I see Khairy providing various evidence such as letters. Unfortunately, it really looks like a scammer,” he told The Vibes. – The Vibes, May 19, 2021
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