Vaccine: Govt urged to prioritise haj pilgrims
KUALA LUMPUR: In view of the latest announcement by the Saudi Arabian government on mandatory Covid-19 vaccination for this year's haj pilgrims, the tourism industry players have expressed hope that the group be prioritised in receiving the vaccine shots.
Umrah and Haj Travel Agencies' Association president Datuk Seri Razali Mohd Sham also called for the involvement of private hospitals in implementing the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, so that they could assist the haj pilgrims in getting their vaccination.
“To get the vaccine shots, we have to register and wait for our turn so it will definitely take time. No queue jumping is allowed but if the vaccination can be carried out at private hospitals, then the group (haj pilgrims) can be prioritised.
“Private hospitals can buy the vaccine from the government and implement the vaccination process on their own, which could help expedite the creation of herd immunity, besides saving the government's time and cost,” he told Bernama when contacted.
Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Seri Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri said the Saudi Arabian government's announcement on mandatory vaccination was to ensure that haj pilgrims' health is in good condition and smooth running of this year's pilgrimage.
The first phase of the national immunisation programme which is being implemented currently involves the frontline personnel. The government said queue jumpers could face a fine of not more than RM50,000 or a maximum of six months' jail or both.
Meanwhile, Razali appealed to the government to reopen the international borders for those who intend to perform umrah, thus helping the umrah agencies which have lost so much income due to the spread of Covid-19.
He also sought the government's approval for industry players to conduct technical visits to Saudi Arabia to obtain all information on the guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOP) before the Malaysian pilgrims were allowed to go to the Holy Land.
In November last year, the Saudi Arabian government has decided to reopen its borders to foreign pilgrims for umrah pilgrimage for up to 10 days but the Malaysian government decided that it would not send any pilgrims after taking the advice from the Health Ministry.