KUCHING: Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin hopes the Covid-19 vaccine registration process will be well-received by the people of Sarawak so that the state’s economic recovery can be expedited.
“Now we are in the process of rolling out our vaccination plan. This has become a total commitment by the federal government and with state’s support to ensure that we can overcome this pandemic,” he said.
He pointed out that it was a huge agenda with significant costs involved but stressed that what was important was to achieve herd immunity in order to expedite the economic recovery process.
Muhyiddin said this at a special assembly with federal and state civil servants in Sarawak at the Waterfront Hotel here today.
“As of Mar 28, a total of 7.2 million Malaysians have registered for vaccination through the MySejahtera application. The total Covid-19 vaccine doses administered throughout the country thus far are 580,765 doses including the first and second doses,” he said.
The prime minister added that the second phase was expected to start on Apr 19, involving high-risk groups, followed by Phase 3 for adults aged 18 and above.
“Our target is to ensure at least 80 percent of Malaysia’s adult population or the equivalent of 26.5 million individuals receive the vaccine for free by February next year. This measure is important to establish herd immunity,” he explained.
Muhyiddin pointed out that the Covid-19 pandemic had had a direct impact not only on the economic sector but also other sectors including the public sector.
“Among the biggest challenges is the delivery of government services – how we want to deliver services and various forms of assistance especially to members of the public in rural areas who still have relatively limited facilities such as basic infrastructure and internet access.”
Muhyiddin said the government had taken a comprehensive approach with regard to balancing lives and livelihood during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“At this time, our country is in the fifth phase, that is, to revitalise the national economy.”
He added that the government had implemented several economic stimulus packages and allocated RM322.5 billion for Budget 2021, the biggest in the history of the country.
“As a result, our country is on the right track to revitalising the national economy, driven by economic sectors and business activities which have almost all been allowed to operate,” said Muhyiddin.
Also present were Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, Deputy Chief Ministers Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali, State Secretary Datuk Amar Jaul Samion, state Cabinet ministers and other dignitaries.
