PAC to call up ministers in query over vaccine procurement

PETALING JAYA: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will resume its query of the government’s Covid-19 vaccine procurement by calling up Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, says its chairman Wong Kah Woh.

Apart from Khairy, who is the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme coordinating minister, Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz and Accountant-General Datuk Dr Yacob Mustafa will also be called to testify.

“The PAC started hearings on Jan 5, 2021 on Covid-19 vaccine procurement for the nation by calling up Khairy and Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba,” Wong said in a statement yesterday.

He said Khairy would resume testifying before the committee on July 27, adding that Zafrul would attend hearings on July 28 morning with Dr Yacob to testify later that day.On Jan 5, Wong said the PAC was satisfied with the explanation given by Khairy, Dr Adham and Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah during the initial hearing.

There have been calls by opposition lawmakers for the PAC to conduct a probe on the procurement of vaccines by the government.

The PAC is expected to table the report on its findings and recommendations following the completion of the inquiry later this year.