PETALING JAYA: The government on average spends more than RM300 on each Malaysian for Covid-19 related expenses based on its current population of 32.7 million people, says the Finance Ministry.

       In line with the amendments to increase the Kumpulan Wang Covid-19 (KWC-19) ceiling limit from RM65bil to RM110bil, the ministry said the government raised the expenditure for Covid-19 related spending programmes from RM5bil to RM9bil to ensure that there was enough allocation provided for Covid-19 related issues.

       For expenses related to the vaccine and the implementation of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) programme, it said the government has allocated RM6.8bil that was funded through the KWC-19 and the National Trust Fund (KWAN).

       “Generally, the government has allocated RM15.8bil for Covid-19 related purposes.

       “As of Feb 28, under the KWC-19, RM4.6bil has been spent on Covid-19 related expenditure including the quarantine centre operating cost, personal protective equipment, reagents, consumables, clinical and medical supplies, Covid-19 special allowance and various costs to curb the Covid-19 transmission.

       “This involves various ministries, departments, agencies, including the Health Ministry, teaching hospitals under the Higher Education Ministry, military hospitals under the Defence Ministry, National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), as well as various other agencies that are involved in the Covid-19 monitoring operation,” it said in a written reply in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (March 22).

       For expenditure relating to vaccines and PICK, it said RM5.7bil has been spent consisting of the operation of the vaccination centres, outsourcing, special allowance payments as well as related operating costs that brings the total expenditure to RM10.3bil.