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PETALING JAYA: The non-disclosure agreement (NDA) clause between Malaysia and the makers of the Covid-19 vaccine prevents Khairy Jamaluddin from publishing detailed information about the negotiations, says Datuk Chong Sin Woon.
The MCA secretary general said a similar situation occurred in Belgium, which left the European Commission embarrassed by the leak of vaccine prices.
He said that the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation had also extended an invitation to (DAP advisor) Lim Kit Siang for a briefing on the vaccine selection and distribution process.
“He (Khairy) has also offered to inform the PAC (Public Accounts Committee) on the condition that its members keep that information secret until the appropriate time to release those details to the public,” he said in a release.
Chong said that DAP’s Wong Kah Woh, who is the PAC chair, had the power to write the PAC report.
He added that Khairy was transparent with the Opposition as part of the “check and balance” of the Perikatan Nasional government.
“Competitors in any business sector will keep their prices confidential prior to customer selection.
“If the European Commission can respect the NDA clause with manufacturers, why can’t Malaysia observe the same practices as well?
“Should Malaysian taxpayers be held responsible for any possible compensation to the pharmaceutical giants due to the NDA leaks?” he said.
Chong said the Perikatan government is to be commended for negotiating the purchase of the AstraZeneca vaccine at cost and committing to making the vaccine available and free for 82.8% of the population with a priority for first-rate. line.
“The Opposition should focus on harnessing talent and development within the Malaysian pharmaceutical industry so that we can be the drivers of the vaccine with value-added qualities and exporters,” he added.
Earlier this week, Khairy said countries could not reveal details of Covid-19 vaccine prices as drug companies had established the condition.
Recently, a Belgian minister had revealed a delicate trade secret: the price that the EU has agreed on for vaccines.
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