Adham, who held the health portfolio when the pandemic first hit the country, admitted that he had received complaints about the matter which occurred at the administrative level.

According to him, many procurement processes were done without going through normal procedures during the pandemic and there was also some confusion.

“We used an emergency procurement process because there was an urgent need for many things to be done quickly. There were some orders that required us to make deposit payments which did not go through the usual processes. There are things that I am aware of and as the minister at that time, I advised them.

“As a minister, I took care of the policy and the administration executed it. I laid down all the requirements to be executed by them and I am ready to cooperate with the MACC,” he said, adding that this was the first time an emergency procurement process was used.

Adham said this to reporters after witnessing the signing of an MoU by the National Institutes of Biotechnology Malaysia, Solution Biologics Sdn Bhd and CanSino Biologics Inc (CanSino).

Yesterday, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki was reported to have said that the agency was conducting an investigation into the alleged corruption, malpractice and abuse of power in Covid-19-related procurements.

On the signing of the MoU today, Adham, who is science, technology and innovation minister said, it was aimed at fostering long-term cooperation in the development, research and commercialisation of human vaccines between the three parties.

“The MoU focuses on joint research programmes on the development of selected vaccines, exchange of researchers and technical experts, transfer of technology and knowledge as well as commercialisation of vaccine products for the Malaysian and international markets,” he said.