By Ling Hui
KOTA SAMARAHAN, April 2: Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has given his word to all Sarawakians that he would expedite and increase the provision of Covid-19 vaccines to the State.
“I promise when I return to Kuala Lumpur, I will tell the ministers in charge to expedite the process and provide more vaccines to Sarawak so that Sarawakians can be spared from the Covid-19 infection,” he said during a special meeting with Samarahan community at Tun Abdul Razak Teacher Education Institution, here today.
It was a promise made following his witness to the excellent work done by frontliners in Sarawak to vaccinate as many of the people when he visited the vaccination centre at Stadium Perpaduan, Petra Jaya in Kuching yesterday (April 1).
Touching on vaccines, he said Malaysia has up until today spent about RM8 billion for issues regarding Covid-19 but not including allocations on the purchases of vaccines.
He said Malaysia’s negotiations with vaccine suppliers began at a very early stage no matter the origin of the vaccines as every single life in Malaysia is precious.
“And today, we have managed to achieve an agreement of getting the supply of vaccines for 150 per cent of the people in Malaysia.
“Why 150 per cent, and not just 100 per cent? Because we don’t know whether we need additional doses later. When it’s not sufficient, where do we go to get more vaccines,” he said.
Noting the government’s foresight and fast reaction to secure enough doses of Covid-19 vaccines for the people, Muhyiddin said some countries have not obtain their first dose of vaccine from any supplier due to late negotiations.
He added that the federal government would have procured any vaccine despite it being extremely pricey at the time as human lives in Malaysia cannot be rated in any of such ways.
Also present at the event were Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah. — DayakDaily
