Unfair to restrict unvaccinated unless jabs mandatory, says tycoon

 

Only fully vaccinated workers and customers will be allowed in Sibu supermarkets under Phase 2 of the state’s recovery plan.

PETALING JAYA: The government must make Covid-19 vaccination mandatory if it wants to restrict the unvaccinated from entering business premises, a prominent businessman said.

Ameer Ali Mydin, managing director of Mydin hypermarkets, said there must, however, first be enough vaccines for the public for vaccination to be mandated.

“The public should also be given enough time to get their vaccinations. The government cannot implement these restrictions all of a sudden because a lot of people have not been vaccinated yet.

“Once these conditions are met, I think all retailers will more than agree that only fully vaccinated individuals be allowed to not only enter supermarkets but also travel,” he told FMT.

Ameer Ali Mydin.

According to new SOPs released by the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) on Monday, only individuals who have completed two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine are allowed to work or enter any business premises there.

Exceptions will only be given to those with one dose of the vaccine until the end of August.

Citing these rules, Sibu municipal council chairman Clarence Ting said only fully vaccinated individuals will be allowed to enter supermarkets in the city from the end of this month.

Former deputy health minister Dr Lee Boon Chye said it was good that the Sarawak government was placing restrictions on the unvaccinated to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Dr Lee Boon Chye.

Lee said vaccinations in Sarawak were way ahead compared with other states as almost all of its population had been vaccinated with at least one dose.

He said it was reasonable that those fully vaccinated be able to move freely and that the restrictions could encourage those who were hesitant to get vaccinated.

“I don’t think the restriction made by the SDMC is wrong. Those who are hesitant to get vaccinated are risking the lives of others by transmitting the virus if they have it.

“This measure will be a small price to pay for those who do not want to get vaccinated because they could potentially cause more harm to others. Everyone should get vaccinated,” he told FMT. - FMT