KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong (Ayer Hitam-BN) has insisted that he was not responsible for the procurement of faulty ventilators during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In Dewan Rakyat today, Wee said he merely transported the ventilators which were among four essential medical items needed during the time
“Firstly, the National Security Council (NSC) and the cabinet purchased 800 ventilator units from March 20 to 25, 2020 – and not me.
“Secondly, I didn’t help in purchasing the ventilators. I helped transport four assets: face masks, ventilators, ICU beds, and personal protective equipment (PPE),” he said.
Wee said at the time, he had posted an update on his Facebook to inform the public that the ventilators had arrived safely, and not because he was responsible for their purchase.
“In the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) reports, it’s not fair (for me) because the former secretary-general made the decision to acquire the ventilators.
“It has nothing to do with Wee Ka Siong,” he said
Wee also said that although the PAC had allocated three hours to question him regarding the management of the Covid-19 crisis, it only took him 30 minutes to explain the matter to the committee.
“And it was only on the day that you (PAC) summoned me that you revealed that they (the ventilators) are not functioning,”
“My job is finished. Mission accomplished. I will not let not anyone or anything tarnish my image,” he said.
On September 21, the PAC summoned Wee as a witness regarding the management of the Covid-19 pandemic, especially in relation to the purchase of ventilators from China.
Earlier this morning, Chong Zhemin (Kampar-PH) had blamed former health minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba over the faulty ventilators instead of Wee.
Chong said that the media has been targeting Wee over the procurement of 104 faulty ventilators during the Covid-19 pandemic although he was not tasked with handling health matters.
“Why are they (media) blaming Ayer Hitam MP (Wee)? I would like to defend Ayer Hitam. This was the then-health minister’s fault.
“What kind of arrangement was this when it was the transport minister who had to handle health matters? Is it because of the then-health minister’s failure that the transport minister had to negotiate (the procurement of ventilators) on behalf of the health minister?
“The last person who approved the procurement should be held responsible, and that person is Adham Baba. I hope the Parliament will take action on this (against Adham),” he said. – November 20, 2023