KUALA LUMPUR – E-hailing drivers, courier personnel and delivery riders will be vaccinated starting July, said Khairy Jamaluddin.
The National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme coordinating minister said this in reply to a question by Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia president Abdul Halim Husin during a virtual engagement with the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia today.
“Tomorrow, I will be at Port Klang with Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong to launch the vaccination programme for the transport sector, starting with port and cargo operators.
“We will get around to e-hailing drivers and food delivery riders in July. We will start to vaccinate our friends at Grab, Foodpanda and all the couriers in July.”
Khairy, who holds the science, technology and innovation portfolio, said the ministry has received lots of applications for different sectors to be considered frontliners.
“Of course, the constraint is (vaccine) supply. So now, we are starting with the transport sector.”
On the tourism industry, he said the government is conducting an accelerated vaccination exercise in Langkawi in view of the plan to open up the holiday island as a “green bubble”, similar to what has been done in Bali, Indonesia, and Phuket, Thailand.
“I believe we can start thinking about opening our borders once other countries are also confident in our management of Covid-19.
“Singapore, for instance – I have already discussed with them about recognising the MySejahtera app.”
He was replying to a question by Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry executive director Shaun Cheah on the timeline for borders to be reopened.
To a question by Malaysian Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry president Datuk N. Gobalakrishnan on helping industries survive the pandemic, he said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will make an announcement on economic assistance.
“A big economic assistance package is coming soon.”
In a statement, Khairy said employers registered under the Public-Private Partnership Industrial Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (Pikas) are not allowed to charge workers for vaccination.
He said the cost of administering the jabs, included the setting up of vaccination centres (PPVs), must be borne by employers, adding that they are prohibited from making deductions from employees’ salaries.
People who get the jab at PPVs managed by private medical practitioners will also not be charged for the vaccine, he said, nor will the practitioners be allowed to impose consultation fees.
Meanwhile, the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) in a statement said it has lodged two police reports following claims on vaccines being sold to the public.
“We understand that several arrests have been made. The details will be announced by police soon.
“CITF would like to emphasise that no vaccines or appointments can be sold. Vaccination is provided free of charge to all residents of Malaysia under the national immunisation programme.” – Bernama, June 24, 2021
