KUALA LUMPUR – Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has denied that the government will enforce another lockdown to curb the spread of the new Omicron variant.
In a press conference today, Khairy said Putrajaya will stick to implementing effective measures that are calibrated and proportionate, instead of extreme methods.
“No, no, no, no, don’t mention the ‘L’ word… We don’t mention the ‘L’ word anymore.
“If we close the borders, it’s not a proportionate response,” he said when asked if the government would consider imposing a lockdown considering the increase in Omicron cases in the country.
The Rembau MP then raised a question: “Until when do we want our borders to remain shut?
“We want to move forward, as much as we can, without having to look back.”
He acknowledged that there will be zero cases should there be a lockdown again, but the country’s economy and mental health and well-being of the people would be affected.
“We opened our borders because it was needed by the people – those who need to study and have businesses abroad and those who want to do business here.
“That is why I say we don’t mention the ‘L’ word because it is as though we are looking back, to ‘gostan’ (a colloquial term that means to reverse) completely,” he said.
Four PPVs to reopen from January 15
In related news, the Umno lawmaker said four mega Covid-19 vaccination centres (PPVs) in the Klang Valley will be reopened beginning January 15 to ramp up the administration of Covid-19 booster shots.
He said that those PPVs are World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL), Axiata Arena Bukit Jalil, Ideal Convention Centre Shah Alam (IDCC) and the Soka Gakkai Hall in Klang.
“We will look at the needs in other big cities. If need be, we will also reopen PPVs in those cities,” he said.
He added that all appointments on booster jabs will be issued via the MySejahtera app or through SMS, he said.
Those who have not received an appointment via MySejahtera but wish to be inoculated with their booster jab urgently can contact general practitioner PPVs listed on the ProtectHealth website to register for the waitlist. – The Vibes, January 6, 2022
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