Adham Baba Admits There Were 'Irregularities' In Procurement When He Was Health Minister
Former Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba is prepared to cooperate with MACC in the probe of COVID-19 procurement.
By Hizral Faiz Rozeman — 26 May 2022, 05:28 PM
Former Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba is ready to cooperate with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) following corruption allegations in COVID-19-related procurement
Adham Baba — who held the position of Health Minister when the pandemic first hit the country — admitted to having received complaints on the matter that happened on an administrative level.
According to him, there were many procurement processes that did not go through the usual procedures. There was also confusion while carrying out the procurement matters, reported Harian Metro.
"We used emergency procurement due to the urgent need for many things to be done quickly. There were some orders that required us to make a deposit payment, which did not go through the usual processes," Adham Baba was reported as saying.
He added that there were things that he was aware of as the Health Minister at the time.
"I, as a minister, take care of the policy while administration executed it. I listed all the requirements to be executed by them. I am ready to give full cooperation to the MACC. There is no doubt because this is the first time ever the emergency procurement is used."
Adham Baba gave the statement to reporters 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) yesterday, 25 May.
Earlier, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki reportedly said that a probe is underway into alleged corruption, malpractice, and abuse of power of COVID-19-related procurement
According to News Straits Times, investigation into the alleged corruption, malpractice and abuse of power in COVID-19-related procurement of Adham Baba is now in the works.
He added that among the instances of abuse of power were in diverting relief aid, fraud related to falsified medical protective equipment, and the bribery of involving enforcement officers when enforcing the movement control order.
