IGP: Vaccines will get maximum security:
Members of the country’s security forces are all ready to ensure the safe transport, delivery and storage of Covid-19 vaccines upon their arrival in Malaysia today.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador said his personnel were ready to escort the consignment from the KL International Airport to the Vaccine Storage Centre (VSC) in Subang before being distributed to other storage areas nationwide.
“While we have yet to receive any information of possible sabotage attempts during transport, storage or distribution, we will remain alert.
“We are taking into account every element, including attempts from those with mental problems that might try to hijack the supply during transit.
“I am very worried if an accident occurs during transport, it could damage the vaccines and render them useless,” he said during a recent interview.
The country’s top cop added that as the vaccines were not cheap, and their procurement still a very lengthy process, police would remain vigilant to prevent any untoward incident.
The IGP gave this assurance to the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry and the Health Ministry, and that the police were ready to assist in the security aspects of vaccine management.
“I take the matter of security for the vaccines seriously.
“If any sabotage were to occur, it could cause the public to doubt the reliability of the vaccines or think they have been contaminated, and we want to avoid that,” he said.
While in transit, the vaccines will be accompanied by police mobile patrol vehicles and outriders, Abdul Hamid said, adding that round-theclock security would be in place at the storage centres.
It is learnt that the Pfizer vaccines will be transported to the VSC in Subang upon arrival at KLIA, before being moved to regional centres in Penang, Senai in Johor, as well as Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.
Meanwhile, Bernama reports that the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) said it would provide assistance in logistical management of the vaccines.
Chief of Defence Force Jen Tan Sri Affendi Buang, in a statement on Friday, said ATM would escort the vaccines from the VSC to the vaccine administration centres throughout the country.
“The ATM has outlined the vaccine management and handling action plan to ensure the immunisation programme can be implemented in an orderly manner, achieve its goals and reducing wastage of the vaccine,” he said.
He said ATM representatives were also be assisting the Health Ministry and the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force in planning the implementation of the immunisation programme.
“ATM’s roles in terms of logistics assistance include storage, delivery and distribution besides security control in all phases of the programme.
“We have also outlined the implementation of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme at the ATM-level based on the priority given by the government to ATM members as vaccine recipients,” he said.