The ventilator bungle
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Key Highlights
The ventilator bungle
Next king’s plans
Progressive wage policy soon
The ventilator bungle
The Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) probe into the bungled procurement of ventilators during the Covid-19 pandemic has shed more light on what transpired.
During the pandemic, the government tasked Pharmaniaga’s subsidiary Pharmaniaga Logistics Sdn Bhd to procure ventilators from China.
Of the 136 ventilators that were delivered, 104 or 76 percent did not meet specifications - effectively rendering them unusable in Malaysia.
One Health Ministry witness told the PAC that it was like ordering apples but receiving something else in return.
However, the government has not been able to take action as there was no written agreement with PLSB on the procurement order.
The bungle was first revealed in the Auditor-General’s Report published in February this year.
Despite this, on June 8 the Health Ministry renewed PLSB’s contract to manage its supply chain and medical product logistics because of its “excellent” track record.
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Next king’s plans
Johor’s Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar wants to “restore order” to Malaysia following three years of political calamity once he is crowned the Yang di-Pertuan Agong next year, according to his son.
Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim said the monarch’s plans include working together with the prime minister.
He added that the next Agong’s reign will be an “interesting time”.
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Progressive wage policy soon
Economic Minister Rafizi Ramli said a white paper detailing the government’s proposed plans for a progressive wage policy will be tabled in Parliament on Nov 30.
He also said that funding has been allocated for a pilot programme involving the private sector, which will take off next year.
Previously there were concerns that the government had hit the brakes on progressive wages as there was no mention of it in Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Budget 2024 speech.
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Other news that matter
Bersatu’s Labuan MP Suhaili Abdul Rahman has become the second PN lawmaker to back Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in hopes of getting funds for his constituency.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim alleged that the US was among those who had tried to pressure Malaysia for supporting Palestine.
The Education Ministry laid out a list of dos and don’ts for Palestine Solidarity Week, which includes not presenting just “one side’s perspective”.
National Unity Minister Aaron Ago Dagang declined to comment on the heated discourse surrounding Palestine Solidarity Week, saying he did not want to speak on “disunity”.
PAS defended the use of toy guns in schools to show solidarity with Palestine, saying it raised awareness about the latter’s struggle for independence.
Defence Minister Mohamad Hasan said that the armed forces are ready to be deployed as peacekeepers in Palestine if they receive a mandate to do so,
Chicken prices will no longer be subsidised starting today.
Despite this, the government expects prices to drop below the RM9.40 per kg controlled price previously.
The government said it was leaning towards targeted subsidies should the price of chicken skyrocket again, although an exact mechanism for this was not laid out.
Because of The 1975’s stunt in July, the government has ordered show and concert organisers to have a “kill switch” ready to stop any inappropriate or indecent incidents on stage.
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