MP urges Putrajaya to let select committee scrutinise vaccine procurement

 

COVID-19 | Putrajaya has been urged to allow the newly formed parliamentary select committee (PSC) on health, science and innovation to scrutinise the vaccine procurement process.

In a statement today, Bandar Kuching MP and medical practitioner Dr Kelvin Yii said the bi-partisan PSC can ensure transparency in the procurement process and help shore public acceptance in the vaccine.

He said that while Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has made clarifications in Parliament, the questions would continue to crop up and the PSC will be the best platform to articulate these queries.

"With more transparency and accountability, we can then increase public confidence in the vaccine and curb misinformation, confusion and hesitancy which will definitely affect the government’s mass vaccination plans.

"We also need to make sure that we are not left behind compared to other countries without compromising on the safety and security of our people," Yii added.

Malaysia has procured Covid-19 vaccines from Pfizer (USA), AstraZeneca (United) and Sinovac (China).

Negotiations with CanSinoBio (China) and The Gamaleya National Centre (Russia) are ongoing.

Although the government has budgeted RM3 billion for the vaccines, the actual cost breakdowns are bound by non-disclosure agreements.

Putrajaya has reported that it has secured enough vaccines for 40 percent of the population so far. - Mkini