Selangor’s Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah said today that the vaccine allocation for his state has been disproportionate and unfair.
Selangor had only received 615,210 doses of coronavirus vaccines instead of the 2.9 million it was promised, the state ruler said in a statement today, adding that his state should be given priority in the country’s vaccine delivery given that it has a large population and is also one of the biggest contributors to Malaysia’s economy.
“His Royal Highness was terkejut (shocked) when it was confirmed by the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force that up to June 1, 2021, Selangor only received 615,210 doses of Covid-19 vaccine, and not 2.9 million doses as claimed before this,” a statement issued by his private secretary Mohamad Munir Bani said.
“His Royal Highness further stressed that it is not fair when the ratio of the total supply of vaccine doses currently is not balanced with the total population of all the residents in Selangor numbering 6.5 million,” it added.
The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation previously reported that the federal government had delivered about 2.9 million doses of coronavirus vaccines to Selangor as of May 30, which was the biggest batch for any state in the country.
Selangor is also one of six Malaysian states that contributed the most to the economy. A 2019 report from the Department of Statistics indicated that Selangor accounted for 24.2% of Malaysia’s GDP, followed by Kuala Lumpur (16.4%), Sarawak (9.6%), Johor (9.4%), Pulau Pinang (6.7%) and Sabah (6.0%).
In today’s statement, the sultan expressed hopes that the Special Committee on COVID-19 Vaccine Supply would expedite and increase the number of doses for Selangor residents. He also suggested that vaccine administration centres in Selangor be increased, especially in rural areas, and urged the setting up of drive-through centers or mobile clinics to speed up the COVID-19 vaccination process.
Selangor chief minister Amirudin Shari showed support for the Sultan’s statement today.
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