Quote:He reiterated that he would only donate vaccines that he procured himself and was not offering funds to purchase vaccines.

“But they want me to pay to a company in KL. I don’t want that. I know the costs,” he said.

Yong also said he was consulting his lawyer about whether to call for a press conference and clarify matters following the minister’s revelation.

“I’m still thinking about it. Of course I want to clear my name,” he said.

Taking to Twitter, the coordinating minister for the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP) said that his aide had gotten in touch with the man, named Yong Chee Kong, and had asked for proof of donation which Yong failed to produce.

“He said no. He said he has money in an account in Hong Kong.

“She then told him he can either show proof of the donation or make an official donation to the government of Malaysia which we will pass to the Penang government. Not for him to pay to any company. Which he refused.

“As I said yesterday, I am happy to facilitate the donation if Mr Yong can prove he can procure the vaccines or make an official contribution to the government,” Khairy said, sharing a Malay Mail article with an interview with Yong.

Khairy’s comments come after Malay Mail’s report earlier, in which Yong insisted that his offer to donate the Sinovac doses to Penang was not a hoax.

The man claiming to be a Sabah businessman offering to donate the vaccines insisted his offer was genuine and not “bogus” as described by Khairy yesterday.