KUCHING: A total of 236 companies have registered with the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Industrial Terminal and Entrepreneur Development (Mintred) to participate in the industrial vaccination centre (PPVIN) programme for the manufacturing sector.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said these companies involve a total of 43,050 employees.
Of these, 47 companies with 10,051 employees are with the Samalaju Industrial Investors Association (SIIA); Sarawak Electronics and Supporting Industries Companies Association (Seca) with 24 companies or 11,127 employees and Sarawak Association of Maritime Industries (Samin) with 45 companies (2,448 employees).
Besides that, Sarawak Timber Association (STA) has 64 companies with 13,423 employees; Sarawak Manufacturers Association (SMA) has 30 companies with 2,565 employees and Federations of Malaysian Manufacturer (FMM) with 26 companies comprising 3,345 employees.
He said the PPVIN were being set up for the manufacturing, plantation, services (shopping malls and tourism), construction as well as oil and gas sectors to facilitate the vaccination exercise of the employees in the private sector.
“The PPVIN in the factories will reduce the movement of the employees as well as to relieve the congestion at the vaccination centres (PPVs) for the general public.
“The Covid-19 Immunisation Taskforce Sarawak (CITF Sarawak) has allowed companies with more than 1,500 employees to apply for PPVIN through Mintred for the manufacturing sector.
“For smaller companies with less than 1,500 employees, they can combine and apply for PPVIN to be set up at a centralised location such as shopping mall or university premises,” he said during a visit to The Spring PPV today.
Awang Tengah who is also the minister in-charge of Mintred said his ministry was working closely with the business associations to get as many companies as possible to participate in PPVIN.
He disclosed that a total of 24,469 employees in the manufacturing sector have been vaccinated with the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine as of Tuesday.
“For Samalaju, a total of 9,260 employees have completed their first dose with the second dose scheduled from July 17 to 23. A total of 11,127 employees from Sama Jaya High Tech Park have received their first dose with second dose scheduled from July 15 to 25.
“In Sibu, 4,082 employees in the manufacturing sector involving 1,402 members of Samin, 2,655 members of STA and 25 members of FMM have been vaccinated at PPVIN University College of Technology Sibu (UCTS) since June 28. The vaccination exercise is still ongoing,” he said.
Awang Tengah also said CITF Sarawak had recently approved for three more in-situ PPVINs in Bintulu and Miri namely Shin Yang Plywood Miri, Shin Yang Plywood Bintulu and Samling Plywood Bintulu which would benefit a total of 5,776 timber-based employees.
He pointed out that the PPVIN programme would cost RM15 per dose to be borne by the company concerned to cover the cost of healthcare organisers, with the vaccine provided by the government free of charge.
“Companies that would like to participate in this programme will have to ensure that there is a suitable venue for the vaccination exercise as required by the Ministry of Health (MoH) and its agency Protect Health Corporation,” he explained.
He also expressed his appreciation to CITF Sarawak, MoH, Protect Health Corporation and the business associations for their cooperation as well as support.
He emphasised that the ministry was committed to ensure that the vaccination programme for the manufacturing sector is carried out successfully throughout Sarawak.
“Once we have achieved the target of vaccination, the government may consider to slowly open up the economy, subject to full compliance with the standard operating procedures (SOPs).
“My appreciation also goes to The Spring Shopping Mall, Mydin Vista Tunku, Emart Riam Miri and UCTS Sibu for allowing their shopping malls and university premises to be used as PPV,” he said.
Also present were Mintred Assistant Ministers Datuk Malcom Mussen Lamoh and Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais, Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian as well as other dignitaries.
