KUALA LUMPUR – Putrajaya reiterates that Covid-19 vaccinations will not be made mandatory but will continue its approach by engaging with the vaccine-hesitant with hopes of getting more individuals inoculated.
During Question Time in Dewan Rakyat today, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Special Functions) Datuk Abdul Latiff Ahmad expressed the government’s intention to use a gentle approach to get individuals vaccinated.
“There are other methods to getting individuals vaccinated. If they are not vaccinated, they can’t dine in. This way, they will realise they can’t live without access to certain kinds of services.
“They will soon realise that they must get vaccinated.”
The minister also acknowledged that there is an anti-vax movement in Malaysia, sometimes led by influential individuals.
However, Latiff said, engagement is crucial to convince individuals to get their inoculations and counter anti-vax propaganda.
“In Malaysia, there is still room for discussion. For example, with the Orang Asli community, we engaged with them and they soon came to accept the vaccination. In Malaysia, this can be done without forcing them to get their jabs.”
Meanwhile, with regards to the vaccination of civil servants, Latiff said 98.18% are already fully vaccinated.
The Public Service Department announced on September 29 that all federal government employees must receive their vaccinations by November 1.
Failure to comply would see employees subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993. – The Vibes, October 12, 2021
