A man uses a guide on registering for Covid-19 vaccination using the MySejahtera app. — Bernama file photo
KUCHING (June 8): Relying on a MySejahtera-only approach for vaccination registration discriminates against the rural population in Sarawak, said Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing.
He pointed out if Sarawak were to vaccinate only those who have registered themselves through the MySejahtera app, the rural population will not be able to get their Covid-19 vaccine jabs on time.
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“Our Internet connection is almost non-existent in longhouses and villages. Besides, not all people who live in rural areas own smartphones.
“The MySejahtera approach to contain Covid-19 favours the urban and discriminates against the rural population,” he said in a statement.
He said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s suggestion for rural folk to be vaccinated without prior registration would ensure all Sarawakians are vaccinated within the scheduled time frame.
Masing opined Abang Johari’s suggestion should have been carried out by the relevant agencies right from the get-go when Covid-19 vaccines were administered to Malaysians.
“The various red tape and standard operating procedures (SOPs) had created unnecessary obstacles to fight Covid-19 and this has resulted in unnecessary loss of lives and loved ones,” he said.
He shared that Kapit Resident’s office staff had taken it upon themselves to bring rural folk for vaccinations even though their names were not on the vaccination list.
“The Ministry of Health staff were most understanding and gave them their vaccination. It seemed they had read our Chief Minister’s mind.
“Practical solutions, it appears, are always in the minds of practical people with no vested interests,” he said.
During Abang Johari’s visit to the AstraZeneca vaccination centre at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) yesterday, the chief minister said the state’s decision to allow rural folk to be vaccinated without prior registration was to enable Sarawak to expedite the vaccination process.
He said not everyone in rural areas would be able to register for the vaccination and that the state government did not want them to go to vaccination centres just to register and then return at a later date for the inoculation.
Abang Johari said this adjustment would enable the state to reach its target to vaccinate all eligible Sarawakians by August.