PM decries vaccine inequality

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia has reiterated the importance of strengthening collaboration among economies towards equitable, affordable and accessible Covid-19 vaccines for all, calling for all parties to act sensibly to ensure no economy is left at the end of the vaccine line.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (pic) said: “With the spread of highly transmissible new variants, vaccines are the lifeline for people and steps must be made to ensure the stark global vaccination gap does not hinder efforts to achieve herd immunity.

“I plead for vaccine-producing economies to avoid vaccine stockpiling and share the vaccines with economies in need.

“Vaccine nationalism and vaccine stockpiling are counter-productive in our effort to increase the global vaccination rate and clear the path for recovery across economies.”

Malaysia, he said, supported international initiatives to boost global vaccine capacities, including through negotiation at the World Trade Organisation on the temporary waiver of certain provisions of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement.

“This is a step in the right direction because extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary measures,” he said.

Muhyiddin was speaking at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Informal Leaders’ Retreat chaired by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and held virtually last night.

He said the informal retreat served as an occasion to reflect on missed collaborative opportunities that could reinforce efforts towards rapid, sustainable and even economic recovery.

“Eight months ago, our firm solidarity and commitment have led us to successfully chart the path to regional solutions against a very serious common challenge.

“While it is comforting to witness the return to a certain level of normalcy in some economies, many of us are still struggling to regain economic stability. This divergent fate is a cause for concern.

“The reality is that, in a globalised world, we all are interdependent and interconnected and this necessitates us to take immediate and steadfast actions collectively,” said Muhyiddin.

He said economies also need to work together in facilitating the movement of essential goods, pointing out the flow of global trade would keep getting disrupted due to lockdowns, surges in cases and production downtimes, unless issues were addressed promptly and collectively.

“The Apec region must not be seen to be the antithesis to open trade and investment. We must reject protectionism by not introducing new trade-restrictive measures during this critical time while innovating new initiatives to facilitate the supply chain.

“One quick win for Apec is something we do naturally and efficiently, which is sharing of information.

“This simple collective effort would go to great lengths in increasing the visibility of the supply chain to reduce risks, address bottlenecks, avoid exorbitant pricing and scarcity of supply,” he said.

Noting that the pandemic had greatly impacted people-to-people connectivity and reopening of borders during pandemic was precarious, Muhyiddin said Apec should find a middle ground in reviving the tourism industry in a safe and trusted environment.

“Malaysia also applauds Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Japan for organising the Olympic Games 2020 which will convene next week,” he said, adding that “this is a testament to how cross-border travel can be carried out, under stringent measures and controlled environment”.

“I call for Apec economies to discuss potential regulatory coherence on the establishment of travel bubbles and quarantine arrangements, or mutual recognition of vaccination certification documents.

“All this can be explored without undermining global requirements.

“When the time is right, all these practical solutions would be the answer in facilitating seamless people-to-people connectivity in the region,” he said.