GEORGE TOWN – The Penang government has urged the federal government to come up with a comprehensive plan of action so it will be able to complete the mandatory Covid-19 screening of foreign workers by February 28.
State Housing, Local Government and Town Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said this is important as the national vaccination programme is scheduled to be rolled out by the end of this month.
He said if Putrajaya issues clear and comprehensive instructions, Penang will be able to cooperate with the relevant authorities to complete the screening exercise on time.
“It is good that we have a plan of action for when we are going to start the vaccination process, but we want to have clear instructions on how we can complete the mandatory Covid-19 screening for some 128,000 foreign workers here before February 28.
“Without any instruction, our efforts will be futile,” he said at a press conference here today.
The mandatory screening exercise, implemented by the Social Security Organisation in collaboration with private clinics and hospitals, was launched in Penang’s red zones on December 9 last year, followed by other zones on December 16.
As of January 31, not more than 50% of registered foreign workers in Penang have undergone the screening, according to state health department statistics. – Bernama, February 5, 2021
