THE Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) will be expanding its Community Vaccination Mobilisation Programme (MOVAK) to inoculate nearly 500,000 small traders and hawkers in city areas.
“We will start with Selangor as the state is recording highest number of COVID-19 cases, with no signs of things getting better soon.
“This will include night market, wet market, day market and pasar tani traders registered with their respective local councils,” it said, in a statement.
The programme is also supported by the National Unity Ministry and Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry.
Selangor is currently recording the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the country, as the state is aggressively conducting COVID-19 screening.
Last week, Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob imposed the enhanced movement control order (EMCO) on the state, which brought jitters to the business community as they were already struggling to make ends meet, especially petty traders and hawkers.
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Elaborating, KPKT said that the initiative was aimed at helping small traders and hawkers to operate with a peace of mind, as several local councils have allowed traders to operate as usual.
“This will also reduce risk of infection as these traders interact with people frequently in their daily business transaction.
“We hope that this measure, with support from non-governmental organisations (NGO), will help us achieve herd immunity the soonest,” it added.
Commenting on the matter, Pasar Borong Harian Selayang chairman Mohd Pandu Insani lauded the move as it would help traders and hawkers to have some sense of normalcy back to the businesses.
However, he urged the authorities to vaccinate the community surrounding the markets too, in order to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infections from rising.
“And vaccinate all workers, including foreigners. COVID-19 doesn’t care about your race, religion or nationality. They are at risk of getting infected too,” he remarked. – July 6, 2021.
