Work together for success of phase two vaccine registration - Saifuddin

CAMERON HIGHLANDS: All parties including public and private agencies need to come together to make a success of the phase two COVID-19 vaccination, which has seen a low sign-up rate especially in the rural areas, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah,

He said the constraints faced in registration involved senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PwD) and the Orang Asli community in the rural areas, who need help to get registered.

“Yesterday, we received reports that the percentage (of registration) for phase two is still low. The Information Department is going to the ground to explain the importance of registering via the MySejahtera application and health clinics, apart from registering them manually.

“But we find that we need to step up our efforts especially in the rural areas, which also involve Orang Asli. We also should not judge them based only on MySejahtera registration because some sections of the rural community are located in hilly areas which lack internet coverage.

“We have plans to upgrade and build new telecommunication towers under the National Digital Network Plan (JENDELA) but it takes time, while immunisation needs to be carried out now,” he told reporters after a Jelajah Malaysia Prihatin programme here today.

He said the national COVID-19 immunisation was a massive exercise which required the help of many parties, including the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to ensure better internet access for the rural community.

“You just imagine it is like a general election. Everybody will have to be immunised in a short time,” he added.

He believed that the involvement of all parties including the Orang Asli Development Department (JAKOA) would lead to a sharp increase in the sign-up rate by the time phase two immunisation begins in April.

Meanwhile, Cameron Highlands Member of Parliament Ramli Mohd Nor, at the same press conference, said the Orang Asli community should not fear getting the vaccine as it is safe and effective.

“I urge Orang Asli throughout the country to sign up for the vaccine. Don’t be influenced by the propaganda of certain parties who claimed that it can affect your ability to have children and even cause death,” he said.

Earlier at Dewan Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Ruil, Saifuddin spent about two hours mingling with the Orang Asli community and briefing them on the measures taken by the government to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

-- BERNAMA