SARAWAK should use its enormous resources to facilitate Covid-19 vaccination for people with or without MyKad in this time of a pandemic.
There are many rural folk living in longhouses scattered in the interior who do not have identification documents, and they, too, should get the jab.
The state government has a fleet of choppers, including twin-engine Eurocopters, that are capable of reaching longhouses in hard-to-access terrain. These should be used to fly out health teams to administer shots to residents in 6,000-plus rural settlements.
It also serves as an opportunity for National Registration Department (NRD) officers to tag along, to register individuals without a birth certificate or MyKad.
And, state leaders must not forget that there are many stateless people living in urban Sarawak, such as in squatter colonies and resettlement schemes. There are eight large squatter colonies and six resettlement schemes in Miri alone.
These people might not even have the MySejahtera app or know how to register for vaccination. Mobile teams should be deployed to include squatters in the immunisation drive, too.
We also can’t forget the homeless. They need to be vaccinated against Covid-19 as well, and many do not have proper documentation. There are many homeless folk in Miri, Kuching, Sibu and Bintulu, among other districts.
MyKad holders will be prioritised for vaccination in the walk-in exercise in rural areas as they are confirmed citizens, Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau has said.
He added that Sarawakians without identity cards will have to wait until these MyKad holders get their jab, and they must be accompanied by their village headmen, who can confirm they are locals, or get the headmen to sign a letter certifying their status.
“Health teams need to have proper records to account for every jab administered. They are not rejecting Sarawakians without MyKad, but giving priority to confirmed citizens due to the limited vaccine supply.”
After returning from his visits to Long Bedian and other areas, Ngau said: “I found that even foreign workers are keen to get the Covid-19 vaccine, but I told them that the priority goes to Malaysian citizens.”
The supply issue has been brought up to state Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas, he said.
The Baram People’s Action Committee three days ago said some natives without MyKad were not given the vaccine when they went to the walk-in facility at the Long San clinic.
“Native farmers told us that when they arrived at the Long San clinic (in central Baram district) and wanted to register for vaccination, they were barred because they did not have identity cards,” said Philip Jau, chairman of the native rights group.
“If this is going to be the normal procedure, there will be tens of thousands of Sarawakians not vaccinated as they are still without a birth certificate and identity card.”
At least 60,000 Sarawakians are estimated to still be without a MyKad.
Many who had children in remote settlements did not register the birth with NRD, whose offices are in cities and towns.
Jau appealed for leniency and flexibility from the state government so that stateless individuals get the jab, and gave the example of the Covid-19 spread among the Penan, who live in remote settlements.
Ngau, however, said natives must realise the importance of having proper documents.
“NRD has held numerous rounds to register those in my constituency, but sadly, there are many who continue to miss these opportunities.”
The state public communications unit, in its reports, said the immunisation programme in the remote areas of Bario, Long San, Long Bedian and Mulu is going well.
Ngau and Mulu assemblyman Datuk Gerawat Gala have said they are happy with the “walk-in, inject, then register” approach.
“It is helping a lot, as it eases the movement of people and prevents overcrowding and long waits,” said Ngau.
Gala said the vaccination drive is being conducted at government clinics.
There is a great urgency to vaccinate rural folk following the recent outbreaks affecting the Penan in Long Luteng, Long Win and Long Lamai.
Sarawak as of yesterday logged 378 virus deaths and almost 59,000 infections. – The Vibes, June 20, 2021
Stephen Then is a reporter at The Vibes. He is based in Miri
