Let those willing to pay RM45 fee get Covid-19 shots, Guan Eng tells govt

GEORGE TOWN – DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng wants the government to allow Malaysians who can afford to pay the operational cost of RM45 per dose to secure the Covid-19 vaccines as it will help speed up the country’s inoculation rate.

The Bagan MP added that Putrajaya should grant ordinary Malaysians the same opportunity as industries registered with the Public-Private Partnership Covid-19 Industry Immunisation Programme (Pikas) to obtain vaccines early by paying the operational costs.

“Despite the increased vaccination rates there are still demands for vaccines like in Penang when there are daily fluctuations in vaccinations.

“In June 27th there were only 3,009 vaccinations in Penang, 11th out of 16 ‘state locations’ before rising up to fourth with 12,325 vaccinations on June 28.

“For this reason, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin should intervene with the International Trade and Industry Ministry to give Malaysians the same opportunity as industries under Pikas to obtain vaccines early by paying operational costs at RM45 per dose,” he said in a statement.

According to Khairy, the government is providing the vaccines free of charge and the company bears the operational cost of the vaccination charge by ProtectHealth Corporation Sdn Bhd.

ProtectHealth was set up under the Health Ministry (MoH) on December 19, 2016 and is a non-profit company which coordinates, administers and manages initiatives related to financing healthcare services.

Lim suggested that ordinary Malaysians who can afford it should be able to pay the operational cost of RM45 per dose to secure the vaccines free of charge.

“If companies can get vaccines early to immunise their workers early, including foreign workers, by paying an operational cost of RM45 per dose, then Malaysians should also be given the same opportunity to purchase the vaccines.

“Failure to do so would give rise again to negative criticisms of differing treatment by the PN (Perikatan Nasional) government on Malaysians,” he said.

Lim stressed that government officials have been violating Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) often, along with what he said was the failure of the various movement control orders (MCO). These factors have worsened the pandemic and the economy.

He recalled many incidents including when Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed was allegedly seen dining in a cafe in his parliamentary constituency in Jeli recently, along with other cabinet members like Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, Tan Sri Annuar Musa, Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin and the infamous Datuk Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali as well as countless deputy ministers as having failed to follow government SOPs.

“Since the PN government has totally and utterly failed to manage the pandemic and the ensuing economic crisis, vaccination is the only solution.” – The Vibes, June 29, 2021