I will cooperate with MACC, Dr Adham says on procurement linked to Covid-19

SERDANG - Former Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba will cooperate with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) following allegations of corruption and irregularities in the procurement linked to Covid-19.

Adham who was the health minister during the peak of pandemic hit the country admitted that he had received complaints over the matter as some of the procurement processes did not go through normal procedures, causing confusion while implementing the processes.

"There was an urgent need at that time and we used emergency procurement to do things quickly. Some of the items we needed to order first and some need (initial) deposits. There were things that I was aware off and I as a minister had advised them.

"As a minister, I looked into the policies and implementation carried out by the administration, I listed all the implementation requirements by them, I am ready to cooperate with the MACC, there is no doubt because this is the first emergency use," he said.

Dr Adham told reporters this after witnessing the exchange of memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the National Institute Of Biotechnology Malaysia, Solution Biologics Sdn Bhd and Cansino Biologics Inc (CanSino).

On Tuesday, MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki was reported to have said that his department was conducting an investigation into the Covid-19 related procurement involving corruption, malpractice and abuse of power.

On the event, Dr Adham, who is also the Science Technology and Innovation Minister (Mosti) said the MoU signed by the three parties was aimed at fostering long-term cooperation in the development, research and commercialization of human vaccines.

"The MoU focuses on joint research programmme on the development of selected vaccines, exchange of researchers and technical experts, transfer of technology and knowledge as well as commercialisation of vaccine products for the Malaysian and international markets,” he said.