The ministry also said civil servants were allowed to become directors of government-owned companies, citing a 1985 circular on the guidelines for such appointments.

“This includes holding a position as the chairman of a board of directors,” it added.

Recently, a social media user had questioned if ProtectHealth, a non-profit company set up by the health ministry, was earning money from the vaccination programme and swab tests.

The netizen asked if the five members of the company’s board of directors, which also includes health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, were given any salary or allowances.

“I hope the company can give an explanation. I want to know the details of the company’s financials,” he said, casting doubt on whether ProtectHealth was really a non-profit.

The other directors include health secretary-general Mohd Shafiq Abdullah, principal assistant secretary at the finance ministry’s government procurement division Rosni Mohd Yusoff, and Johari Abdul Muid and Nurhisham Hussein from the Employees Provident Fund.

The health ministry said ProtectHealth was formed to become a “strategic purchaser” to boost the country’s healthcare quality while keeping costs reasonable.

It said the entity was monitored by the governance, monitoring and evaluation committee, whose members comprise representatives from the accountant-general’s department and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, among others.

On Nov 12 last year, ProtectHealth was tasked with managing the electronic service provider for the Hospitalisation and Surgical Scheme for Foreign Workers (SPIKPA).

On Feb 19 this year, it was appointed by the government to manage the participation of private general practitioners in the national Covid-19 immunisation programme for phases 2 and 3.

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