MP: Transparency in National Vaccination Strategy our focus

KUCHING: The Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) for Health, Science and Innovation will focus on ensuring the government’s transparency in implementing the Covid-19 National Vaccination Strategy.

Its newly-elected chairman Dr Kelvin Yii, who is Bandar Kuching MP, said they would scrutinise the Covid-19 National Vaccination Strategy and seek input from experts to make sure vaccines reach the intended target including rural areas of Sabah and Sarawak.

“Vaccine and its safety, efficiency and distribution are our priority to make sure the government is transparent in the whole process from procurement, to training, education and distribution,” he said when contacted yesterday.

The Democratic Action Party (DAP) lawmaker said the committee would scrutinise the quantity of vaccines to be distributed in each state and how the vaccines are eventually inoculated.

Given the current pandemic, he believed the committee was playing a pivotal role in providing input and check-and-balance on the government’s approach on Covid-19.

Dr Yii said they would also act as a uniting point to mobilise all sectors for the good of the country.

“The main agenda on our table will be input to the current Covid-19 approach taken by the government, scrutinising its effectiveness and also future plans to deal with the pandemic on top of other ongoing health issues.

“We have set in motion preparations for the next meeting with Ministry of Health and Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and to be briefed on the National Vaccination Strategy and also the government’s approach in handling Covid-19, including its plans during this Emergency,” he added.

Asked how soon the next meeting would be called, he said: “We are trying to arrange with their officers. Trying to push for it as soon as possible.”

He added they would meet via Zoom because of the current nationwide travel ban until Jan 26.

“We are targeting at least a monthly briefing by different agencies to better understand the progress of both the rollout of the National Vaccination Strategy and government’s approach on Covid19.”

Dr Yii hoped to also mobilise all sectors including the private sector, health coalitions, nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and relevant stakeholders through this PSC to give their input towards the country’s strategy in order to activate a ‘whole of society’ approach against Covid-19.

He stressed the importance of transparent data and information to serve as an informed input based on data and science and not political considerations.

“I believe the PSC’s ultimate goal is to contribute to the necessary reforms and policy direction including long-term reforms and roadmaps in terms of healthcare and innovation for the benefit of our country.”

PSC is a bi-partisan committee being given the authority to call up different stakeholders to provide input towards the government’s plans and efforts.

With this, he said he was looking forward to working with his committee members to promote the spirit of bi-partisanship for the good of Malaysians and Malaysia.

“I am really honoured and grateful to be elected the chairman of the PSC for Health, Science and Innovation. Grateful for the support and trust bestowed upon me to carry out this responsibility,” he said.

Besides Dr Yii, other members of the PSC are Yamani Hafez Musa (Sipitang MP), Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim (Baling), Bung Moktar Radin (Kinabatangan), Lukanisman Awang Sauni (Sibuti), Wan Hassan Mohd Ramli (Dungun) and Dr Xavier Jayakumar (Kuala Langat).