KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 22 – One Member of Parliament and two state assemblymen have yet to receive their Covid-19 vaccine, according to the Ministry of Health (MOH).
As of December 13, from a total of 220 parliamentarians, 219 individuals (99.5 per cent) are fully inoculated against the coronavirus.
In the same period of time, 588 of 590 state assemblymen nationwide have completed their Covid-19 vaccination.
“In order to encourage all MPs and state assemblymen to get Covid-19 vaccination, MPs and ADUNs were given priority as early vaccine recipients during the first and second phases of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK),” Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin stated in a written Dewan Rakyat reply on December 14.
He did not name the unvaccinated MP and assemblymen.
Apart from that, MPs and state assemblymen who have not received Covid-19 vaccines can walk in to selected vaccination centres and get their jabs.
“MPs and state assemblymen can also contact the district health office (PKD) in their respective areas to make an appointment.”
Kluang MP Wong Shu Qi had asked MOH to state the number of MPs and state assemblymen who have not received the Covid-19 vaccine and steps taken by the ministry to encourage them to take it.
Currently, there are only 220 MPs in Malaysia as two parliamentary seats are vacant following the demise of two parliamentarians.
Although Covid vaccine passes are used ubiquitously in public premises to only permit entry to fully vaccinated people, unvaccinated MPs cannot be legally prohibited from entering Parliament.