Lies and slander - Adham says after C4 links Health Ministry contracts to him

CORONAVIRUS | Health Minister Adham Baba has refuted claims by the Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Centre) which linked health ministry contracts under MACC investigation to his firm.

"I strongly state that it had nothing to do with Khazanah Jaya or links to them (the people mentioned by C4).

"They are lies and slander," he told Malaysiakini.

Adham (photo, above) said he will issue a more detailed statement later to explain the issue.

He was asked to respond to C4 which earlier today demanded that Adham come clean on the contracts being probed by the MACC.

C4 claimed that among the contract recipients were Khazanah Jaya Sdn Bhd, whose two directors it said had previously sat on the same board of a different company with a shareholder of Adham's chain of clinics.

"It was reported on May 5 that at least five contractors have been summoned by MACC in order to facilitate the investigation involving contracts believed to be worth at least RM30 million.

"The contracts involve the purchase of Covid-19 test kits, personal protective equipment and face masks.

"Given the importance that transparency and accountability must not be lost in the haste to respond to a pandemic as deadly as the Covid-19, C4 demands Adham to provide a full explanation in the name of public interest on the procurement contracts as well as the appointment of contractors," it said in a statement today.

C4 had questioned whether there was any favouritism in the granting of the contracts.

On May 5, the national news agency Bernama, citing a MACC source, said the graft buster was investigating Health Ministry direct negotiation contracts related to the procurement of equipment to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, the MACC denied that any arrest had been made after rumours circulated on social media a day earlier about the detention of "senior officials, a secretary, contractor and political party leader".

The Health Ministry had also lodged a police report over the claim of arrests on May 4.

On the same day, Adham issued a statement assuring that the Health Ministry will cooperate with the MACC but did not provide any context.

"The Health Ministry fully supports the MACC's efforts to combat corruption and misappropriation.

"The Health Ministry will continue to cooperate with MACC, including to ensure that the ministry's personnel uphold the highest level of integrity," he had said. - Mkini