The CITF had said yesterday that private doctors may have a role in inoculating the public. It also denied that the involvement of general practitioners in the national immunisation programme had been discontinued.

But the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) argued that the decision to “abruptly” halt vaccinations by private GPs needed a proper explanation.

Its president, Dr Subramaniam Muniandy, said the health director-general had previously proposed that GPs’ participation in the national immunisation programme (NIP) be increased.

“Is CITF taking advice from the ministry of health? Or is it acting independently?” he asked in a statement.

Subramaniam also claimed that CITF was “clueless when it comes to healthcare”.

The NIP, he said, should be led by the health ministry instead of the science, technology and innovation ministry.

“It is obvious the CITF are not the experts but they are running the show for vaccinations. Even if they insist it should be them, they should at least consult the experts.”

Subramaniam also questioned CITF’s claim that “more than 100%” of adults in the Klang Valley had received their first dose.

“How is it even possible that 107.7% of adults in the Klang Valley have received their first dose?

“We would welcome an explanation from them.”

Yesterday, the CITF said the figure included undocumented residents and non-residents.

CITF had previously given 48 hours notice to stop vaccination appointments at 741 private clinics, several private hospitals and ambulatory care centres in Selangor.

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah revealed that the decision to stop vaccinations at private clinics had been made against his advice and “contrary to my proposal to increase the participation of GPs”.