HEALTH Minister Dr Adham Baba has refuted a Hong Kong-based news portal report that claimed the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah had acquired unapproved Sinopharm vaccines to be used for his family members.

Speaking to The Malaysian Insight, Adham branded the report written by Asia Sentinel as baseless, adding that the purchases of vaccines for the country went through stringent assessment by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency.

“After the stringent assessment, it will then receive approval from the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force. Not just that, we made sure all vaccines purchased are safe,” Adham told The Malaysian Insight.

“Where did the writer get the source for his story? He is trying to create a negative perception on Malaysia,” he added.

The report was published two days ago, also alleging the involvement of top Malaysian leaders including Adham, Home Minister Hamzah Zainuddin and Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

It was said that the King obtained the Sinopharm vaccine from United Arab Emirates Prince Mohamed Nayan, the King’s classmate when both were students in the United Kingdom.

The article also claimed that apart from the King, Hishammuddin, together with Attorney-General Idrus Harun, were given the Sinopharm vaccine, although the vaccine has yet to receive approval in Malaysia.

The report went on to claim that the King was given an additional 2,000 doses for family and friends back home.

“The Agong vaccinated his family members with the help of two physicians (his personal physician Dr Zulkarnain Ishmail, who practices at Gleneagles Hospital in Kuala Lumpur and Dr Hanafiah Harounrashid, a member of the Malaysia Medical Council), the excess doses were given to business partners and friends,” the report said.

Health Director General Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah was alleged to have ordered a raid on both doctor’s offices, and doses were found in Zulkarnain’s possession.

The Malaysian Insight is trying to get a comment from the two doctors over the allegations in the report.

“The King and the prime minister intervened to stop Dr Noor Hisham from charging the two doctors in court for having unapproved vaccines,” the article read.

Meanwhile, a well-placed source in Bukit Aman has said police have not received any report on the matter. – April 18, 2021.