Khairy to meet with home minister on Covid-19 jabs for undocumented migrants

Putrajaya will hold discussions with the home ministry, NGOs as well as international agencies to ensure that the Covid-19 vaccination programme can reach undocumented foreigners.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin was asked at a press conference today whether the various government agencies would heed Putrajaya’s assurances that undocumented migrants would not be arrested if they turn up to get the promised jabs.

“The position of the government is we will be providing vaccination free for all in Malaysia, including undocumented migrants and asylum seekers with the assurance that they will not be detained or reported.

“We will likely be working with NGOs in order to facilitate vaccinations,” he said, citing groups such as Mercy Malaysia and Medicine San Frontiers.

“I have already discussed with the UN and and other NGOs to ensure that asylum seekers and refugees come forward in a safe environment to get vaccinated.”

Putrajaya said last month that its free Covid-19 vaccination would also be extended to all non-citizens in the country.

It said this was part of the government’s humanitarian responsibility and would also help in achieving the country’s goal of reaching herd immunity.

It said its decision to extend free vaccination to non-Malaysians residing in the country was also inspired by the move by other countries to include Malaysian nationals in their inoculation programmes.