Covid-19 vaccine: PAC chair not in favour of KJ's secrecy request

 

The chairperson of the powerful Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Wong Kah Woh, has expressed reservations that they would be briefed on the government's Covid-19 vaccine procurement process through a non-disclosure agreement.

"All proceedings will be followed by a report to be tabled to the Dewan Rakyat. Non-disclosure may not serve the purpose of transparency," Wong (above) said on Twitter.

This was in reply to Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin's tweet in which he was willing to brief the PAC on the matter, provided that the contents of the briefing are kept under wraps.

Khairy has been going on a Twitter charm offensive, projecting an image of transparency and urgency while his ministry works on securing vaccines.

This comes amidst criticisms over the clandestine nature of state-big pharma negotiations.

Khairy had repeatedly invited Iskandar Puteri MP and DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang, a major sceptic over the vaccine pricing, which is kept under wraps, to meet in order to explain the matter to him.

Additionally, Khairy said he was willing to report to the PAC, which he said was "chaired by the DAP", on the vaccine procurement agreements.

Wong appeared to have taken offence to the "chaired by DAP" remark.

"By the way, the PAC is chaired by (the member for) Ipoh Timor and not whatever party that the chairperson belongs to.

"This is our tradition since the time Ronald Kiandee was chairperson. I hope you correct your last tweet," Wong said to Khairy.

When contacted, Wong said the PAC's next meeting is scheduled for Jan 11. - Mkini