WITH the Health Ministry (MOH) adamant on “penalising” the unvaccinated, a veteran unionist urged the Government to use talks and motivation instead.
“This is where the Government has to use its intelligence, instead of simply going around punishing the unvaccinated.
“Unlike those who abuse their powers and indulge in corruption, the unvaccinated population are not criminals,” UNI-Malaysia Labour Centre (UNI-MLC) president Datuk Mohamed Shafie BP Mammal told FocusM.
Earlier this week, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin cautioned the unvaccinated that the Government would “continue to make life difficult” for them as they chose not to receive the shots.
However, the Rembau MP said that it would not apply to those who have valid medical reasons for not getting the COVID-19 vaccines.
”If you cannot be vaccinated, that’s fine. We will give you a MySejahtera digital exemption. But if you don’t vaccinate yourself by choice, we will continue to make life difficult for you.
”You will not be allowed to dine in at restaurants and barred from entering shopping centres,” he was reported saying.
However, Khairy’s perceived threat against the unvaccinated did not go down well with many quarters, with the National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) calling it a recalcitrant behaviour.
The Malaysian Alliance for Effective COVID Control (MAECC) also criticised the minister for going against decency, with several local artistes also taking him to task.
Concurring that eligible Malaysians should get themselves vaccinated, Shafie urged the Government to offer the unvaccinated a six-months grace period to allow them time to get their shots.
Use data and experts
During the period, he added that the Government should find out the reasons why these group are refusing the shots and use experts to convince them on the benefits of getting inoculated.
“Let’s engage the services of psychologists, motivational speakers and religious leaders to find out on why they refuse to get vaccination and explain its benefits to them.
“To cite an example, there was company where about 200 of its employees refused to get vaccinated due to a variety of reasons.
“But after we engaged some experts to talk to them, now only less that 25% of the number have yet to get vaccinated,”Shafie quipped.
He stressed that using-heavy-handed approach against the unvaccinated community would only push them away further from getting inoculated, which would not bode well for the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme.
“Let’s work as a team and find out why they are refusing the shots; be it distrust over the vaccines, religious issues or even fear.” Shafie remarked. – Oct 21, 2021
