KUCHING: In view of Sarawak’s high vaccination rate, it is not necessary for the state government to make it mandatory for its civil servants to be vaccinated.
In saying this, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs and DBKU) Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi pointed out that Sarawak was among the states with the highest Covid-19 vaccination rates.
“Based on the vaccination programme carried out earlier, the number of civil servants receiving the vaccine is high.
“The existing vaccination programme has been implemented efficiently, so we need to continue the steps taken before this,” he said on Friday (Oct 1).
He was commenting on Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s statement on Thursday (Sept 30) that the state government would not make it compulsory for its civil servants to be vaccinated against Covid-19, although this is now mandatory for federal public officers as announced by the Public Service Department in Putrajaya earlier the same day.
At the same time, Dr Abdul Rahman, who is Pantai Damai assemblyman, advised civil servants in Sarawak who had not been vaccinated yet to head to the nearest health clinic to receive the vaccine.
“This is because civil servants are representatives of the government and we have to be responsible as we are always dealing with the people.”
Meanwhile, Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang also expressed his agreement and support with the chief minister’s remarks on the matter.
“He is right. There is no need to force everybody against their will and wish to get vaccinated. Our civil servants are intelligent people and they know how best to protect themselves as well as the wellbeing of the rest of the community.”
The Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman said, for instance, all of the personnel at MPP were vaccinated against Covid-19.
