Penang gets 2 million Sinovac doses but Putrajaya says no
Penang CM Chow Kon Yeow (left) showing a letter from the health ministry secretary-general dated March 12 denying permission to accept two million doses of the Sinovac vaccine for free from a private company, with him is Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng.
GEORGE TOWN: Penang has been offered two million doses of Sinovac vaccines for free but is unable to do anything with them, as the federal government is standing in the way.
The health ministry has denied the state permission to use the vaccines and told it to wait for the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme to be rolled out, said chief minister Chow Kon Yeow.
He said they had written to the ministry in February when the offer for the vaccines was first made but the ministry turned them down.
“If we get these two million doses, it will be handed over to the health ministry to be administered to Penangites. If there are excess doses, they can be given to other states.
“We would also like to ask why Penang and other states have not been given the same opportunity to buy vaccines, like Selangor and Sarawak,” he said in a press conference here today.
Also present was former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng who said the move to deny the vaccines was “criminal” and urged Chow to go ahead and “take the donated doses” and accept any punishment that the federal government may mete out.
“This is a crime by the PN government. You allow political donations, can but say no to vaccine donations. ‘Kepala otak dia’, how can this happen?
“When there are two million doses, frontliners, elders, so many lives, can be saved. I want to propose to Chow and the state, let’s just take the donated doses; if they (the authorities) want to punish, let them punish.
“It is a crime to stop the vaccines from being given, as many people, including journalists, have yet to get their jabs,” the Bagan MP said.
Separately, Chow said his government would support the Armed Forces in setting up the Field intensive care unit (ICU) at the grounds of the Kepala Batas Hospital to allow 27 ICU beds to be placed.
He said a budget of RM2.04 million had been requested from Penang for the electricity supply works, and mechanical, civil engineering works for the Field ICU.
The health ministry has denied the state permission to use the vaccines and told it to wait for the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme to be rolled out, said chief minister Chow Kon Yeow.
He said they had written to the ministry in February when the offer for the vaccines was first made but the ministry turned them down.
“If we get these two million doses, it will be handed over to the health ministry to be administered to Penangites. If there are excess doses, they can be given to other states.
“We would also like to ask why Penang and other states have not been given the same opportunity to buy vaccines, like Selangor and Sarawak,” he said in a press conference here today.
Also present was former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng who said the move to deny the vaccines was “criminal” and urged Chow to go ahead and “take the donated doses” and accept any punishment that the federal government may mete out.
“This is a crime by the PN government. You allow political donations, can but say no to vaccine donations. ‘Kepala otak dia’, how can this happen?
“When there are two million doses, frontliners, elders, so many lives, can be saved. I want to propose to Chow and the state, let’s just take the donated doses; if they (the authorities) want to punish, let them punish.
“It is a crime to stop the vaccines from being given, as many people, including journalists, have yet to get their jabs,” the Bagan MP said.
Separately, Chow said his government would support the Armed Forces in setting up the Field intensive care unit (ICU) at the grounds of the Kepala Batas Hospital to allow 27 ICU beds to be placed.
He said a budget of RM2.04 million had been requested from Penang for the electricity supply works, and mechanical, civil engineering works for the Field ICU.
Control, Control, Control.
ReplyDeletePower comes from Control.
Yes I sokong Penang backdoor vaccination. Penang Lang spirit, like that Cardiologist Jogger who exercised outdoors to stay healthy but kena fine never mind.
ReplyDeleteWee KHAT Siong can continue to Duduk Rumah Makan Mee Maggi sampai bila pun tak tahu.
The Health Ministry has denied Penang permission to use the vaccines?
ReplyDeleteIs The Obedient Civil Servant DG TAN SRI Noor Hisham responsible for this decision? Or did he know about it but he obediently kept quiet? If so he may be responsible for unnecessary suffering and death.
you have just confirmed your ceaseless grudge against DG TAN SRI Noor Hisham, wakakaka
DeleteAt yesterday's talk, which was streamed online, Chow Kon Yeow stated that Penang State had submitted the request to MOH be allowed to accept the vaccine supply offer in March.
DeleteBut was rejected.
Who to hold accountable for the gratuitous rejection , if not MOH DG TAN SRI Noor Hisham ?
Now so abundantly clear, Palestinian lives more important than Penang lives.
ReplyDeletePenang would be receiving 2 million doses, already packed in vials.
ReplyDeleteBut problem is Pharmaniaga got jalan to repack bulk Sinovac vaccine into vials. Who owns Pharmaniaga…..?
Ha ha ha…..the same company that was supposed to build warships but instead billions disappeared.
QUOTE
Pharmaniaga is a public limited company. As at 31 December 2020, Boustead Holdings owns 55.83% of the company, while Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (LTAT) owns 11.16%. The major owner of Boustead Holdings is itself LTAT.
As at December 2020, the board of directors of Pharmaniaga are Datuk (Dr.) Hafsah Hashim who serves as the independent non-executive chairman, Datuk Zulkarnain Md Eusope as the managing director and Mohamed Iqbal Abdul Rahman as the deputy managing director. The company's independent non-executive directors are Dato' Mohd Zahir Zahur Hussain, Dato' Dr. Najmil Faiz Mohamed Aris, Dato' Dr. Azhar Ahmad, Zulkifli Jafar and Dr. Abdul Razak Ahmad.
UNQUOTE
Wakakakakaka…
ReplyDeleteSome mfers would start shouting about bolihland administration with communist characteristics AGAIN!
oh, u know how communist work.
DeleteHelping a 犬养mfer to shout first mah!
DeleteOtherwise, its cloaking farts would sound no ends.