KUALA LUMPUR, 16 JULY: Businesses and retailers in Selangor are proposing a “vaccination dividend” to reward people who have been partially or fully immunize against Covid-19. They propose that all people who have got their first-dose vaccine shots be permitted to roam and work freely, as the efficacy rate of 70% is attained after the first dose, according to an open letter to Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
“We propose that they be allowed to work full time and that their attendance not be counted toward the rotational work threshold.”
We also propose that those who have completed the two-dose course be allowed to dine in, with social distancing in place. “Furthermore, those who have completed the course of two doses are allowed to partake in all social and entertainment activities such as cinema, gym, spa, theme park, karaoke, pub and bar,” according to a letter signed by Malaysia Shopping Malls Association (PPK) president Tan Sri Teo Chia on June 16.
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PPK, Malaysia Retailers Association (MRA), Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA), Bumiputra Retailers Organisation (BRO), Malaysia REIT Managers Association (MRMA), and Malaysian Association of Theme Park and Family Attractions have issued an unified urgent appeal in the letter (MATFA).
They wrote in the letter that this “vaccination dividend” incentive will motivate all present anti-vaccine people to be vaccinated so that they can have freedom and peace of mind, and that this is a win-win strategy for the state, the economy, and the rakyat.
“The fact that 12 percent of people in Selangor have been vaccinated is fantastic news. This is higher than the 10% threshold for exiting Phase 1 of the NRP [National Recovery Plan]. We are confident that YB Menteri Besar will continue to guarantee that our fair share of vaccines is distributed, taking into account the state’s population and economic powerhouse status as the country’s greatest contributor, accounting for 24.2 percent of GDP. However, because 69 percent of instances are sporadic and widespread in the community, we must acknowledge that the problem has become endemic, and the absolute number of cases should not be used as a criterion for phasing the NRP.
“We believe that the recent increase in the number of covid cases in Selangor is due to mass testing.” According to the letter, “this number must be modulated when compared to lower numbers from other states that do not conduct mass testing.”
Any further district-wide lockdowns, according to the letter, would be too damaging.
“If there are any high-risk hotspots, then focused surgical and precision lockdowns should be undertaken building by building.” This is to avoid causing undue harm and suffering to the rakyat and companies that do not contribute to the infection, as well as to let all enterprises to reopen and operate so that lives and livelihoods can begin to heal and recover.
“Kuala Lumpur, which embraced this technique, has demonstrated its effectiveness, with numerous locked-down buildings having their lockdowns released, sparing unneeded hurt and misery to the rakyat and business,” it continued.
Selangor has given out a total of 2.42 million Covid-19 vaccines thus far. A total of 1.82 million people have received their first treatment, with 600,858 people receiving their second injection, indicating that they have been fully immunized.
The total number of Covid-19 vaccinations distributed in the United States was 13.11 million./n
