GEORGE TOWN – Penang Gerakan Youth today lodged a police report following allegations of fraud involving an offer of two million doses of the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine to the state.
Its spokesman, Mohd Aswaad Jaafar, said the revelation by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin is very serious and has tarnished the state’s reputation.
“At least two state governments might have been scammed: Sabah and Penang. If Khairy’s statement is true, the Penang government has been deceived.
“This misconduct involves financial resources of more than RM100 million, and an investigation into such a large amount of money is very important,” he told a press conference.
Yesterday, Khairy dismissed as bogus an offer by a private company to supply two million Covid-19 vaccine doses to the Penang government.
His remarks came after Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng rapped Putrajaya for rejecting the doses purportedly offered.
Aswaad also called on Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow to lodge a report immediately if he believes he has been deceived by one Yong Chee Kong and a company called Xintai Development Enterprise.
However, he said, if Khairy’s claims prove true, Chow will have to resign as his credibility as the state’s top leader is marred.
“We think it is necessary for Chow to lodge a police report to defend his name as chief minister.”
Chow, in a statement yesterday, said the Penang government takes seriously the statements by Khairy, who told the press that the company that allegedly sought to donate the two million vaccine doses is fake.
The chief minister also urged the company and its director, as named by Khairy, to come forward to address the minister’s allegations. – The Vibes, May 20, 2021