GEORGE TOWN – An unverified message claiming to be by Xintai Development Enterprise managing director Yong Chee Kong has been making the rounds on messaging platforms, slamming Khairy Jamaluddin after the minister called the supposed donation of two million Sinovac shots a scam yesterday.
The viral message claimed that Yong was “personally attacked” by Khairy, who is the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme coordinating minister.
“Our letter to the Penang chief minister was publicly disclosed although it clearly contains my private and confidential information, including my home address and personal phone number,” the text read.
“Our intention is merely to contribute to enable lives to be saved and help revive the country’s economy from the effects of the pandemic.
“We didn’t think our intentions will be politicised, and (we) are now labelled as fraudsters – a label that is extremely embarrassing and damages my reputation. My good intentions were reciprocated with statements in the form of personal attacks.”
The message also alleged that Yong has been bombarded with phone calls from various parties, and that reporters are looking for him at his residential address.
“We have contacted our Hong Kong company secretary to enable the preparation of complete company-related documentation to prove that our company exists and is genuine.
“We will also take the necessary steps to prove that the company is capable (in providing) the donations offered.
“The feud between political parties should not drag us, let alone embarrass us. We will hold a press conference to clear our name and consider taking legal action against the allegations and defamation against us,” it read, adding that the company will be disclosing evidence of discussions with relevant parties, such as Sinovac.
In another message, a photo of a house allegedly with the address in the letter to Chow Kon Yeow has also been widely circulated. It shows a semi-detached corner lot undergoing external renovations.
The Vibes has found that there are two houses with the same lot number listed in the letter, but bearing different house numbers, and located some 100m apart.
One unit is a terrace house, while the other is a semi-detached property. Both houses appear occupied, but no one answered the door during The Vibes’ visit.
A 40-year-old woman living next to the terrace house refused to confirm whether Yong is the unit’s owner.
A man living next to the semi-detached unit, too, refused to say whether Yong is his neighbour, mentioning only that the owner is a businessman.
Yesterday, the science, technology and innovation minister dismissed as bogus an offer by a private company to supply two million Covid-19 vaccine doses to the Penang government.
Responding to claims by Chow and Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng, Khairy confirmed that his ministry received a copy of the letter from Yong, from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, to Chow on February 1.
“The letter requesting approval for the purchase of the Sinovac vaccine was investigated by the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force with the vaccine producers themselves.
“At the time, Sinovac was not yet approved by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency.
“Despite this, we investigated the contents of the letter with Sinovac Biotech and confirmed that no such transaction took place with the person or the company as contained in the letter.”
Khairy said among the contents of the letter, it is stated that Yong will give a donation in the form of two million vaccine doses to the Penang government.
“In the letter, the individual stated that he will deposit US$2 million (RM8.26 million) to Sinovac Biotech via his personal HSBC account in Hong Kong if the Penang government approves of the donation.
“The letter also refers to dealings with a Sinovac Biotech sales manager named Ms Coco Chang.”
However, he added, the probe conducted with Sinovac revealed that no such transaction had taken place.
He also confirmed that another letter was sent to him from the same individual on February 9, for the same offer of two million vaccine doses for East Malaysia.
“The offer is not right at all. This is a fake offer, a bogus offer. Look at the letter; it has no letterhead on it.
“Nobody knows who this Yong Chee Kong is, this person who uses the address Lot 22, Lorong Kenawai 5, Taman Sinar Baru, Jalan Damai in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
“This company, Xintai, is said to be registered in Hong Kong, but checks of company records in Hong Kong showed that it does not exist.”
Khairy’s remarks come after Lim rapped the federal government for rejecting the purported two million vaccine doses offered.
Prior to that, Chow said Penang in February was offered a donation of two million doses from a private firm as part of its corporate social responsibility programme.
However, the state government’s application to accept the doses, made via a letter to the Health Ministry secretary-general, was rejected on March 12, on the grounds that Putrajaya has already implemented the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme. – The Vibes, May 20, 2021
