The Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) report on the procurement of ventilators supplied to the government during the pandemic has raised more questions than answers.
The dealings for the procurement of ventilators may have taken place at a most extraordinary time; however, if the usual procurement process was not possible, at the very least, proper documentation should have been insisted upon.
Documents, including signed documents could have still been shared via WhatsApp.
If Pharmaniaga Logistics Sdn Bhd (PLSB) did not have the experience in the procurement of medical equipment, proper documentation should have been insisted upon all the more for transparency and accountability.
How 104 out of 136 delivered ventilators were unusable without any party being held accountable demands a thorough explanation.
This issue does not only involve a substantial amount of public funds but may also have significantly impacted the management of severe Covid-19 cases in the country.
It is imperative that this issue is not brushed aside, and we must insist on complete accountability.
Furthermore, it highlights the urgent need for robust emergency procurement policies to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future.
Dr Azizan Abdul Aziz is president of the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA).
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.
