By Jaythaleela K
MIRI, July 14: To date, a total of 236 companies have registered with the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Industrial Terminal and Entrepreneur Development (MINTRED) Sarawak to participate in the industrial vaccination centre (PPVIN) programme for the manufacturing sector, involving a total of 43,050 employees.
Those sectors include the Samalaju Industrial Investors Association or SIIA, Sarawak Electronics and Supporting Industries Companies (SECA), Sarawak Association of Maritime Industries, Sarawak Timber Association (STA), Sarawak Manufacturers Association (SMA) and the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM).
This was disclosed by MINTRED Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan today after visiting a PPVIN at Shin Yang Plywood Sdn Bhd in Kuala Baram Miri.
“Under the PPVIN programme, 33,525 employees in manufacturing sector have already been vaccinated with the first dose of Covid-19 vaccines, out of which a total of 8,270 employees from the timber industry have received their first dose,” he said.
“Today, we are witnessing the vaccination exercise at Shin Yang Plywood Kuala Baram, Miri and another two PPVINs are in progress at Shin Yang Plywood, Bintulu and Samling Plywood, Bintulu with total of 4,668 employees expected to be vaccinated.”
Two more PPVINs are being proposed for Menawan Wood Sdn Bhd at Murum and Shin Yang Wood System Sdn Bhd at Belaga that will benefit 1,371 employees in total.
The PPVIN Program will cost RM15 per dose (RM30 for two doses) to be borne by the respective companies to cover the cost of healthcare organisers, and the vaccine is provided by the government free of charge.
Companies that would like to participate in this program will have to ensure that there is a suitable venue for the vaccination exercise as required by the Health Ministry (MOH) and Protect Health Corporation, an agency under MOH.
“MINTRED thanks CITF Sarawak (Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force Sarawak), Ministry of Health Malaysia and Protect Health and the business associations for their cooperation and support in ensuring the success of this programme,” Awang Tengah said.
“Once we have achieved the target of vaccination, the government will consider to slowly open up the economy, subject to full compliance of the standard operating procedures.”
“MINTRED is committed to ensure that the vaccination programme for the manufacturing sector is carried out successfully throughout Sarawak,” he said.
He was accompanied by Minister of Transport Sarawak Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Executive Chairman Shin Yang Plywood Sdn Bhd Kuala Baram Miri Tan Sri Datuk Ling Chiong Ho, Assistant Minister of International Trade and Industry, Industry Terminal and Entreprenuer Development Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais, and Assistant Minister of International Trade and Industry Terminal and Entreprenuer Development Datuk Malcom Mussen Lamoh. — DayakDaily
