A MP urged the Government to vaccinate judges as soon as possible under the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) as they are important members of the society.
“The Executive and Legislative members have both been vaccinated in Phase 1, leaving behind the Judiciary. Our Legislative members has been fully vaccinated yet Parliament remains closed.
“The Judiciary is left behind with courts still in operations. All three branches ought to have been treated equally and fairly. Some judges are still waiting for an appointment while others have opted for the AstraZeneca voluntary vaccination scheme,” Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh said in a statement.
Under Phase 1 of the PICK, the Government had inoculated ministers and parliamentarians, as they were categorised as frontliners.
Despite getting early vaccination, the Government has repeatedly denied calls for the Parliament to be reconvened during the Emergency, despite Istana Negara having no problems with the House continuing with its business.
De facto Law Minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan defended the Government’s decision, saying many of the MPs were above 60 years of age and suffering from various ailments, putting them at risk of contracting COVID-19.
On that note, Yeoh lamented that members of the Judiciary were left behind under Phase 1 of the vaccination programme, adding judges should have been treated equally as the Executives and MPs.
“The Judiciary is a place for Malaysians to pursue justice and find relief. We need to ensure that access to justice is not hindered for the public.
“As such, judges, magistrates and court staff need to be vaccinated quickly under Phase 2. They are our frontliners in dispensing justice.
“We cannot allow the nation’s wheels of justice to stop running or be hindered in anyway, for justice delayed is justice denied,” the former deputy minister remarked. – May 24, 2021.
