KUALA LUMPUR – The autopsy report on 13-year-old Revnesh Kumar will be submitted to his parents at 2.30pm today, said Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
He said in a press conference that this follows a meeting among senior forensic experts from his ministry yesterday at Serdang Hospital.
This comes amid criticism by three civil society organisations (CSOs) – Global Human Rights Federation, Malaysia Tamilar Munetra Kalagam, and Persatuan Pengguna Islam – over the apparent lack of responsibility on the ministry’s part.
At the same time as Khairy’s announcement, representatives from the three CSOs urged the ministry to be truthful and transparent regarding Revnesh’s death.
At 1pm today, representatives from the groups had gathered at the Health Ministry complex in Putrajaya to submit their memorandum.
The memorandum also criticised the Covid-19 vaccination consent form that requires parents to provide consent prior to the injection for being symbolic of the government not wanting to take any form of responsibility over possible repercussions.
“There is no guarantee or assurance from the ministry that such vaccinations towards children are free of any risks or side effects,” it said, adding that the government is exerting pressure onto parents since children will be deprived from their normal lives if parents decline vaccinations.
“In effect, the government is holding parents on ransom to accept vaccinations without any choice whatsoever.”
They also slammed the ministry for failing to establish an independent body to receive complaints from individuals experiencing side effects after their vaccination.
In their memorandum, it said the government should not push for the Covid-19 vaccination as well as booster shots.
“At least until comprehensive research has been conducted on the vaccines and their efficacy, we urge the ministry and government to not encourage or enforce any form of the Covid-19 vaccination, including booster shots, on children or even for healthy adults.”
On March 4, Khairy had said that the parents of Revnesh, driver Naresh Kumar and housewife Vijayarani Govindan, had been briefed on the latest developments of the investigation into the death of their teenage son in a 30-minute meeting.
On March 6, however, The Malaysian Insight reported that the parents were “dissatisfied” with the outcome of the meeting, with Vijayarani saying officials at the meeting had attempted to write off the possibility of her son dying due to the vaccine.
She also said that Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah had told them that any reaction to a Covid-19 vaccination could be seen within 48 hours and not after weeks.
This, she said, contradicts what National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency pharmacovigilance division head Dr Azuana Ramli had earlier stated.
Azuana reportedly said side effects from Covid-19 vaccination usually occur within 30 days. – The Vibes, March 9, 2022
