Why did the Finance Ministry reportedly refuse funds for vaccine purchase?

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Finance Ministry's Stance on Vaccine Purchase Funding Remains Unclear Amidst Public Scrutiny

Reports indicate that the Finance Ministry has not yet provided the necessary funds for the purchase of Covid-19 vaccines, prompting questions from political figures. While the estimated cost for vaccine procurement is between RM2.1 and RM3 billion, DAP's Lim Guan Eng has questioned the ministry's inability to allocate these funds, particularly when compared to the significantly larger RM305 billion Prihatin economic stimulus package. This situation is highlighted by the fact that neighbouring countries, such as Singapore, have already received initial vaccine deliveries, with Indonesia having commenced its vaccination program.
Discrepancy in Funding Allocation

Lim Guan Eng has publicly challenged the Finance Ministry's alleged refusal to disburse funds for the Covid-19 vaccine acquisition. He highlighted that the reported cost of RM2.1 billion for vaccines is comparatively small when set against the RM305 billion Prihatin economic stimulus package. This comparison aims to underscore the perceived lack of financial constraint in the government's overall budgetary capacity.
Progress on Vaccine Coverage

Despite the funding questions, Putrajaya has announced progress in securing vaccine coverage for its population. The government has confirmed that it has obtained vaccine supplies for an additional 10 per cent of the population, with the overarching goal of achieving vaccination for over 80 per cent of the country. The estimated expenditure for this extensive vaccination coverage is approximately RM2.05 billion.
Regional Vaccination Progress

The delay in Malaysia's vaccine procurement, as highlighted by Lim Guan Eng, stands in contrast to the advancements made by other nations in the region. Indonesia has already initiated its vaccination efforts, a significant undertaking given its large population of 268 million. Furthermore, Singapore received Asia's first shipment of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on a recent Monday, underscoring the varied pace of vaccine acquisition across neighbouring countries.

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Why did the Finance Ministry reportedly refuse funds for vaccine purchase?

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