With the first of November mandatory vaccination deadline past, almost 29,000 Malaysian Public Servants have not taken the jab against COVID-19, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Abdul Latiff Ahmad has confirmed.
However, he said no disciplinary action had yet been taken, as there was a process that had to be followed.
“The Head of Department where an officer has refused to take a vaccination must first issue a show-cause letter which the Civil Servant has to reply to within 21 days,” Dr Latiff (pictured) said.
“If the response is unsatisfactory, a domestic inquiry committee and a disciplinary committee will be formed to consider subsequent action.”
He said the officer would be issued with a warning or have salary or promotion withheld.
“Whatever action taken must be executed properly,” Dr Latiff said.
It was earlier reported that the Public Service Department (PSD) had made it mandatory for all Public Servants to receive the COVID-19 vaccine by 1 November to ensure that public services ran smoothly.
PSD said the rule was in line with the Government’s efforts to restore its services to operate at maximum capacity.
Public Servants who could not be vaccinated due to health complications were required to submit medical statements from a Government medical officer to their Department heads.
In September, the PSD noted that 98 per cent of Public Servants had been vaccinated however, a more recent and separate report suggests that staff at the Ministry of Education constitute the biggest group of unvaccinated Government workers.
Kuala Lumpur. 13 November 2021
