Penang had one of the highest number of people registering for vaccination, with 658,707 – or 47.5% of the 1.3 million target – signing up.
However, the administration of the jabs has been slow with only 63,101 people vaccinated as at May 3.
In a joint statement with 11 state assemblymen, the backbenchers’ group said it was further disappointing that just five vaccination centres were open when 10 were earlier pledged, with 2,000 shots being given daily, far below the 7,500 shots per day target set earlier.
“This is made worse with some being forced to travel very far from their homes to get their shots, causing them to cancel their appointments due to the hardship they would have to endure to get to these centres,” the statement read.
They pointed out that these were stumbling blocks in the government’s attempt at hitting the 80% immunisation target by December.
“What is the contingency plan of the federal government if the vaccine roll-out cannot be increased further?
“Malaysians are in pandemic fatigue caused by the government’s management of the Covid-19 pandemic. This is made worse by the double standards at play in terms of compliance with SOPs,” they said.
The group said it was important for Parliament and the state assemblies to deliberate on the issues. In the meantime, the federal government must reply to the concerns raised.
Chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said a National Security Council meeting with the prime minister on the Covid-19 management had revealed that there were “not enough” stocks of vaccines.
He said science, technology and innovation minister Khairy Jamaluddin had briefed the meeting today on the shortage of supply.
“The minister, in answering my question, promised to supply Penang with vaccines when the stocks stabilise,” Chow said in a short statement today.
He said the ministry had also taken note of Penang’s call for factory workers and other economic frontliners to be prioritised for the vaccine shots.
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