Smooth progress ensured: Correct decision that Khairy continues to lead NIP

The decision that the Health Ministry (MOH) led by its minister Khairy Jamaluddin will be handling all vaccination-related programmes and health strategies related to Covid-19 is welcome.

It will ensure this campaign will continue smoothly and that as many Malaysians and non-citizens as possible will complete their vaccination soonest.

Recently, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti) Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba will focus on research and development to produce Covid-19 vaccines.

It is hoped that these two ministries will execute their roles to bring the pandemic situation under control so that our nation can return to normalcy and the economy and the people’s livelihoods may recover.

Under the previous Cabinet, Khairy had helmed the Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme (NIP).

His performance in executing the programme was above satisfactory.

As the Health Minister in the new Cabinet, Khairy will continue to head the NIP and ensure the smooth integration and continuation of all related works.

This will eliminate the need for the public and staff to adapt to new instructions whenever there is a change of person in charge.

It is only apt administratively that the nation’s immunisation programme is returned to MOH’s authority.

At present, Khairy’s first task is to accelerate the inoculation rate in all states that appear to lag behind such as Sabah, Kedah, Kelantan and Johor.

With Dr Adham given the task to handle research and development to produce Covid-19 vaccine, this move is also in line with the scope and responsibility of the ministry.

I hope that Mosti will develop Malaysia's own locally produced vaccine soonest so that there will be sufficient and stable access for the population.

This will reduce the need to rely on purchase of vaccines from overseas.

Datuk Tan Teik Cheng

MCA vice-president