PROMINENT Klang business and non-governmental organisation (NGO) leaders decried the Government’s decision to close down multiple COVID-19 vaccination centres (PPV) in at the constituency.
“The rationale for the closure is highly questionable and clearly not based on public health measures, science or data. Decisions should be made in consultation with local stakeholders for better outcomes.
“It appears that Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (MOSTI) and Health Ministry’s (MOH) positions are on a collision course, detrimental to public health and far from achieving the actual 90% inoculation mark.
“We ask that the decision be revoked and wait for the new MOSTI minister to be appointed for further dialogue and discussion,” said Klang MP Charles Santiago, representing the groups.
Yesterday, Malaysiakini reported MOSTI as having instructed 29 PPVs in Selangor to be shut down, stating that a large proportion of the population has been fully inoculated and vaccine demand is expected to reduce.
These closures will happen throughout this month until the end of September, across nine districts.
As for Klang, the authorities have ordered the closures of five PPVs:- Hotel Premiere, Dewan Kompleks Sukan Pandamaran, Dewan Persatuan Hokkien, Dewan Pusat Kebudayaan Sokka Gakkai and Dewan Kelab Kilat Pangsapuri TNB Kapar.
Touching on the matter, Santiago stated that using the MySejahtera application to garner data of those vaccinated or otherwise may not be accurate, given that many are not registered in the application and lack other documentation needed to support the vaccination process.
For starters, he said that as of Aug 3, Klang residents registered in MySejahtera (above 18) totalled at 796,313. The 90% vaccinated (having received at least one dose) was at 716,682.
“But the actual population of Klang above the age of 18 is 1.3 million. Those who have been vaccinated (received at least one shot) is 1.17 million.
“Therefore, we can estimate that 453,318 people in the constituency have yet to get inoculated. That is a whopping 35% of the population in Klang,” Santiago noted.
The DAP leader added that the rising number of people getting infected in Klang also does not seem to reflect that 90% of the population there have been vaccinated against COVID-19.
Making things difficult
Based on the statistics, Klang recorded 10,981 infections between May 20 and June 20. The cases later jumped between June 21 and July 20 (17,066) and between July 21 and Aug 20 (49,697).
“The sudden increase in July and August shows that the number of those unvaccinated is high. This is not good as it could overburden hospitals and the aim to bring down the number of severe cases will not be achieved as envisioned by MOH.
“Therefore, what the COVID-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) is doing is counterproductive to the national objective of reducing infections, burden on our hospitals and minimising deaths,” Santiago remarked.
In terms of cost, he also said the Government had already invested close to RM4 mil per PPV in Klang as “sunk-cost”, which does not resonate with CITF’s argument that it needs to reallocate resources and cut costs.
“And the plan to concentrate more than 14,000 people daily at the Wyndham Hotel PPV may lead to cluster breakouts and cause the closure of that premise for one or two days.
“So, it is prudent to distribute vaccinations across Klang to other PPVs. This will also increase accessibility to people to vaccination centres, thereby increasing the number of vaccinations.
“Besides, changing PPVs may lead to miscommunication and confusion among second dose recipients who are not IT-savvy, especially among the elderly and migrant workers. This may lead to missed appointments and non-completion of vaccination,” Santiago stressed.
Among others who signed the statement were Port Klang state assemblyperson Azmizam Zaman Puri, Klang Coalition Chinese Association chairman Datuk Tony Tang, Klang Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry representative Kelvin Ng, Hokkien Association Klang president Soo Hak Min and Klang India Little India Entrepreneurs Association Klang president Charles Manikam. – Aug 21, 2021
