Khairy calls elusive donor’s ‘transfer to KL company’ claim a ‘serious allegation’

 

Khairy Jamaluddin says his officer had only asked the man to show proof of the donation or make an official donation to the federal government which would then pass the money to Penang. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Vaccination minister Khairy Jamaluddin has described as “serious allegations” a claim by an elusive man who had pledged two million doses of the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccines to Penang.

The Sabah businessman had claimed that someone from Khairy’s office had asked for the donation money for the purchase of the vaccines to be given to a “company in KL”.

In a series of tweets today, Khairy said his officer had merely asked the businessman for proof so the order for vaccines could be made, not to wire the money to a company as alleged by the businessman.

He said the Sabahan had refused his officer’s request for proof of the donation to purchase the two million doses for Penang, saying he “has money in an account in Hong Kong”.

“She (the officer) then told him he can either show proof of the donation or make an official donation to the federal government which would then pass the money to the Penang government, but he also refused.

“As I said yesterday, I am happy to facilitate the donation if Mr Yong can prove he can procure the vaccines or make an official contribution to the government,” he said.

Earlier, Malay Mail reported that one Yong Chee Kong claiming to be from Hong Kong-based investment company Xintai Enterprise Development Limited as saying that he legitimately wanted to donate vaccines to Penang, after Sabah did not take up his offer.

Yong said he told Khairy’s aide that he would only donate vaccines that he bought himself and would not want to offer money to other parties to buy them instead.

“But they (Khairy’s aide) want me to pay to a company in KL. I don’t want that. I know the costs,” he was quoted as saying.

Yesterday, Khairy said the pledge by a “donor” and a Hong Kong-based company to Penang was most likely bogus, as a search of companies in the city revealed that it did not exist.

Chief minister Chow Kon Yeow had earlier claimed that the health ministry blocked Penang from getting the vaccines from the donor. In response to the bogus claim, he said the donor ought to step up to clear his name. - FMT