Kelantan wants study on Covid-19 vaccine to ensure its Syariah compliance

 

The Kelantan government wants a study to carried out to ensure the Covid-19 vaccine complies with Islamic law before it can be used, said Deputy Menteri Besar Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah.

He said the study is crucial to increase the confidence of the people, especially Muslims, to receive the vaccine as a treatment to prevent infection from Covid-19.

"Some people totally reject the vaccine, which to me is not appropriate in terms of religion, because the vaccine is also among efforts for us to fight against the disease. So, if it is halal and does not contradict Syariah, it is not wrong to get the vaccine.

“However, we want the federal government to conduct a thorough study and refer to the religious authorities or the fatwa council to avoid a polemic in the society," he told reporters at his office at Kota Darul Naim today.

Last Nov 7, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced that the government will start ordering the Covid-19 vaccine through an allocation of more than RM3 billion in the Budget 2021.

Malaysia is in the priority list to receive the Covid-19 vaccine from China. However, it has caused controversy among Muslims who doubt the halal status of the vaccine.

Meanwhile, on the conditional movement control order (MCO) being implemented in Kelantan, Mohd Amar urged residents to continue to be disciplined by adhering to the prescribed standard operating procedures to curb the spread of Covid-19.

“If everyone complies with the SOP, it means the conditional MCO will not be extended, but it depends on the Covid-19 situation. That is why we want the people to discipline themselves so that the Covid-19 figure does not increase and if it increases then the government has no choice but to extend the conditional MCO," he said.

The conditional MCO was enforced in Kelantan since Nov 24 following the increase in Covid-19 cases in the state.

- Bernama