THE government will automatically extend the services of experts involved in vaccine research when they reach the retirement age of 60 by giving them a five-year contract, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.

He said the decision, which takes immediate effect, will ensure that the relevant experts who are still carrying out research related to vaccines, especially those involving subjects marketable in the international market, can continue and complete their research.

“So, there is no longer any question of feeling insecure in… the work they are conducting… they can continue for five years and, after that, we will see if there is a need to extend it further.

“This is on condition that the research and development they are undertaking can be commercialised and marketed throughout the world,” he told a press conference after launching the National Vaccine Development Roadmap and Malaysian Genome and Vaccine Institute in Bangi today.

Also present were Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Adham Baba. – Bernama, November 1, 2021.