‘Anti-vaxxers can hamper nation’s recovery’

On the ground: Muhyiddin (in red) meeting and getting feedback from locals in Bukit Gambir about issues affecting the people during a get together session. — THOMAS YONG/The Star

PAGOH: The time has come for the government to come up with drastic measures to address the issue of anti-vaxxers, including making vaccinations mandatory, says Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The National Recovery Council chairman said although the number of anti-vaxxers was negligible, at between 5% and 10%, they could still hamper the country’s recovery targets.

“This small group of people could be carriers of the virus which can be detrimental to a larger group,” he said, adding that if the anti-vaxxers get infected, it would require the government to continue managing the health crisis.

Muhyiddin said although the country’s vaccination rate was more than 90%, the time had come to tackle anti-vaxxers now that the vaccination programme was at its tail end.

He said that he had previously suggested to Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin that all in Malaysia, including foreigners, should be fully vaccinated “to save the country”.

“We do not want any distraction or anything impeding the country’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic,” he told reporters after a visit to his Bukit Gambir state constituency here.

Muhyiddin, who is also the Pagoh MP, said that without vaccination, one voluntarily gave up the privilege to enter public areas as this would need the MySejahtera app.

He said it was another matter if a person could not be vaccinated due to disease or illness.

“But something needs to be done if a person refuses vaccination due to fear after reading foreign reports about vaccination against Covid-19,” he added.

On the opening up of borders to fully vaccinated people similar to travel bubbles introduced in Singapore or Thailand, Muhyiddin hoped that the conditions to reopen the borders would be announced soon so that businesses could plan ahead.

He suggested that Malaysia categorise countries like the United Kingdom does, using colours such as green, yellow and red.

Muhyiddin also pledged to go to the ground to find out more about the problems faced by the people.