M’sia welcomes 1 mil vaccine doses from UAE

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia welcomes a contribution of one million doses of Covid-19 vaccine by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

Hishammuddin, in a statement today, said the contribution will aid the country in facing challenges posed by the pandemic, and greatly assist in intensifying the daily vaccination rate of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.

“On behalf of His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, the government of Malaysia and the Malaysian people, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Zayed Al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces,” he said.

Hishammuddin also thanked UAE’s Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Sheikh Abdullah Zayed Al-Nahyan, and the leadership of the UAE for the urgent and generous contribution.

He said the recent contribution, combined with the ongoing cooperation between both nations in various other areas such as knowledge sharing, underscores the long-standing and brotherly ties between Malaysia and the UAE.

“Malaysia and the UAE remain committed to strengthening our bilateral relationship based on the firm foundation of common values and traditions between our two nations for the mutual benefit of both our peoples,” he added.

Hishammuddin said this is not the first time the UAE has extended Covid-19 assistance to Malaysia, as in March last year, the UAE contributed 20,000 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test kits.

In May last year, another contribution of seven tonnes of hand sanitiser was made specifically to Wisma Putra’s Malaysia’s Diplomatic Equipment Stockpile (MDES).

UAE’s contribution to MDES was distributed to Malaysia’s “diplomatic frontliners” serving in the country as well as Malaysia’s missions abroad, he added. – Bernama, August 14, 2021