DPM: Proposals on those fully vaccinated being studied

KUALA LUMPUR: More details on the relaxation of restrictions for those who have been fully vaccinated will be announced after Hari Raya Haji, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Aside from individuals, the government was also looking at relaxing restrictions on businesses as well, he said.

Ismail Sabri said it was being discussed in detail now.

“The technical committee is studying the proposals thoroughly,

“More on this issue will be announced after Hari Raya,” he told reporters after launching the Defence Ministry (Mindef) Prihatin programme at Wisma Pertahanan yesterday.

When asked, Ismail Sabri said cases of individuals who could not receive their second vaccine dose due to allergies, severe side effects or health issues would be referred to the Health Ministry.

The government was looking at easing restrictions, including allowing those fully vaccinated to travel or dine at restaurants.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had said relaxing restrictions was part of the National Recovery Plan.

In March, Asean economic ministers discussed the possibility of launching a regional digital vaccine passport, reviving talk of an intra-Asean travel bubble.

The Malaysian government said talks were ongoing with countries like Singapore to see whether countries would recognise the MySejahtera app as vaccine passports.

In the European Union, those who have completed their doses can now get a vaccine passport-like certificate to enable them to travel.

Anyone holding a certificate should, in principle, be exempted from testing or quarantine when crossing a border within the EU (or Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein).

Meanwhile, on calls by several parties for compounds for SOP violations at factories to be increased, Ismail Sabri said this could only be done with amendments to the Emergency Ordinance.

“Initially, under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act, the compound rate was set at RM1,000. Then Emergency was declared and we made amendments where we increased that rate to RM50,000 for violators.

“This was because at the initial rate, our observation was that companies and business premises were not bothered to follow the SOP,” he said. He noted that once the Emergency ends on Aug 1, the compound rate would revert back to RM1,000.

Ismail Sabri, who is also the Defence Minister, said Mindef Prihatin aid from Perbadanan Perwira Niaga Malaysia (Pernama) and Bank Islam would be distributed in the form of basic food items at mosques for armed forces personnel, veterans as well as members of the public who are affected financially.