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NGO urges setting up of RCI to probe alleged abuse of power in purchase of Covid-19 vaccines

KUALA LUMPUR: The Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) has called for the setting of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate the alleged abuse of power in the Covid-19 vaccine purchase by the previous administration.

PPIM activist Datuk Nadzim Johan said the association received complaints from several non-governmental organisations and the public regarding Covid-19 management cost which is said to involve tens of billions of ringgit.

He wished to highlight the issue to get the attention of authorities, especially Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

"We don't want this kind of thing happening again because it's something that doesn't make sense. We want to officially take this matter up.

"The complaint has substance and it deserves to be investigated because it involves a very large amount in expenses.

"The country is not very rich and the people are suffering... what are the leaders doing? We hope Malaysians can also unite in this effort," Nazim told a press conference here today.

Also present were PPIM adviser Datuk Seri Asri Yusoff and consultant histopathologist and statistician Dr Manimalar Selvi Naicker, lawyer C.R. Selva and Valued Partners chairman Michael Chow.

Dr Manimalar urged the new government to take seriously the appointment of the new health minister after this.

She said the position should be held by an individual with a specific background in the field of medicine, in addition to having at least five years' experience.

"We want the health minister from now on to be appointed from among medical practitioners. This is because the field of medicine is complex and not easy to understand and it is very difficult for those who are not doctors to understand technical matters in this field."

Dr Manimalar said if there were no qualified members of parliament for that post, then the government should appoint a senator with medical expertise instead.

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