PAC says it respects vaccine non-disclosure pacts but won’t compromise on transparency

 

PAC chairman Wong Kah Woh says they are committed to helping instill public confidence in the Covid-19 vaccine.

PETALING JAYA: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said today the non-disclosure agreements (NDA) for the Covid-19 vaccines will not affect its proceedings regarding Putrajaya’s vaccine procurement strategy.

Its chairman Wong Kah Woh said the committee would hold an “exit conference” with the health as well as science, technology and innovation ministries before presenting its Covid-19 vaccine report to the Dewan Rakyat.

He said this was to ensure that all terms in the NDAs with pharmaceutical companies were complied with.

“Generally, the NDA should not restrict the duties and responsibilities of the PAC,” he said in a statement today.

“However, in this matter, the PAC will balance between its roles of conducting legislative scrutiny and the provisions of the NDA in existing commercial agreements to ensure there are no breaches to the agreements.”

Wong assured that the committee would not compromise in terms of transparency, despite respecting the agreements made.

“PAC is committed to helping instill public confidence in the Covid-19 vaccine so that the spread of infections can be stopped,” he said.

Earlier today, the PAC had attended a three-hour briefing in Parliament on Putrajaya’s vaccine procurement strategy. Wong said the committee was satisfied with the government’s clarification on the use of the vaccines so far.

Those in attendance included Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, Health Minister Dr Adham Baba and health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah. - FMT