THE government will not tolerate cases of queue-jumping for Covid-19 vaccines and would resort to punishing these offenders if it becomes necessary, said Khairy Jamaluddin. 

The minister in charge of the national vaccination programme said he has discussed the matter with the prime minister. 

“We will enact in the Emergency Ordinance to fine those who cut the line if we need to,” he said in an online gathering organised by MedTweetMy, a civil society set up to bust medical myths, last night. 

“I’m prepared for it. I will suggest these powers be given to the health ministry because the minister can now issue fines in certain areas,” added the science, technology, and innovation minister. 

He said he was focused on vaccine distribution justice and vaccine equity right from the beginning. 

“This issue is important to me because, from the international perspective, vaccine equity is not being practised by advanced countries that have monopolised it, until poorer countries have no access to the Covid-19 vaccine.”

The issue of queue-jumping for vaccine jabs has been played up in the social media with claims that several politicians and their family members were cutting the line to receive the vaccine before front-liners. 

A public healthcare doctor Rafidah Abdullah had taken to Twitter to voice the double standards made for these assemblymen, state executive councillors and their “kuncu-kuncu”.

Rafidah, one of the moderators in the session last night, referred the issue to Khairy and on how the government planned to overcome it.

Khairy gave his assurance that it would not happen. 

“We have heard some people saying that some hospitals have been asked to let some VVIPs through.

“When I asked the director-general of health and his deputy, they checked with the hospitals alleged to be involved and the hospitals said, ‘oh no no, it didn’t happen.’  

“Whether it existed or not, it doesn’t matter now, we have acted to curb the issue,” Khairy said. 

He also said that he made a judgment call to include the people’s representatives such as members of state government meetings, Parliament members, and state assemblymen in the list for inoculation. 

“Maybe some countries put politicians last, but based on the comments that I received, the views were divided.

“I did it based on the factors of them being active on the field and frequently meeting people. 

“They are also a high-risk group to Covid-19 infections and a potential Covid-19 spreader. Secondly, they help to boost vaccine confidence among the people.” 

In addition to that, Khairy said that whistleblowers who wish to report on it can email [email protected] and keep their anonymity. 

“We will also create a function on our website vaksincovid.com.my for complaints to be made if there is any evidence or doubt on VVIPs cutting queue. 

“I have personally told politicians and my own colleagues that as far as your families and spouses are concerned, they must wait in line. I am very clear about that,” he said. 

Malaysia began the first of its three-phased, year-long immunisation programme last week to vaccinate at least 80% of the population. 

As of yesterday evening, a total of 15,923 have received the vaccine, with more than 1.42 million registrations through the MySejahtera application. – March 1, 2021.