Selangor Sultan shocked by disproportionate number of vaccine doses given to the state - The Star Online
KLANG: Selangor’s Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah is shocked that Selangor only received 615,210 doses of Covid-19 vaccines and not 2.9 million as claimed, as it is highly disproportionate to the state’s population of 6.5 million.
“His Highness would also like to remind that Selangor is the nation’s biggest gross domestic product contributor and hence should be given due priority,” the Ruler’s private secretary Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani said in a statement on Tuesday (June 8).
The Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) recently confirmed that Selangor only received 615,210 doses of Covid-19 vaccines and not the earlier figure as claimed in data provided by a Federal ministry.
According to the statement Sultan Sharafuddin also decreed that, under the current circumstances, lives must be given priority as opposed to other agendas.
“His Highness also hopes the Special Committee On Covid-19 Vaccine Supply (JKJAV) will expedite vaccination and increase the number of vaccines for the people of Selangor,” said Mohamad Munir.
The Ruler also wanted the number of vaccination centres in Selangor to be increased, especially in rural areas.
Mohamad Munir said Sultan Sharafuddin believed that drive-through vaccination centres and mobile clinics can speed up the process and widen coverage.
“His Highness praises the Selangor government’s current move of aggressively carrying out free Covid-19 swab tests for people throughout the state.
“His Highness also advises everyone who has received the Covid-19 vaccination to constantly be cautious,” said Mohamad Munir.
Mohamad Munir also said Sultan Sharafuddin hoped the people will not be influenced by anti-vaxxers’ misplaced conviction.
“His Highness believes vaccinations can save lives, especially during dangerous pandemics such as Covid-19.
“His Highness is worried that if there were still individuals and groups that are stubborn (about receiving) the Covid-19 vaccination, the target to get herd immunity will not be achieved and this would place the country in a more difficult and dangerous pandemic crisis,” said Mohamad Munir.
He added that Sultan Sharafuddin was also saddened by the high number of daily positive cases in Selangor with a cumulative figure of some 203,520 cases and 961 deaths as of Monday (June 7).
He added that the Ruler also urged the people to abide by the movement control order rules stipulated by the government such as staying home and using face masks, observing social distancing and always taking care of personal hygiene.
“His Highness would also like to thank all frontliners in government and private hospitals as well as health clinics who are working hard in carrying out their responsibilities with full commitment and dedication to ensure public health is always protected,” he said.
Mohamad Munir said Sultan Sharafudin hoped the people would appreciate the frontliners’ sacrifices and give full cooperation to efforts to control and eradicate the pandemic.