Interstate travel likely for vaxxed Malaysians

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said he discussed the matter with the National Security Council after the latest international research said that those who had two vaccination doses and a certificate would be able travel anywhere.

“There were earlier views that those who have been vaccinated may be protected from infection but could be a potential carrier of the virus. But now it has been found that this is not true.

“We want to decide that if this is the case, those who have received two doses can travel across states, districts and divisions as normal, ke-sini, ke-sana (here and there).

“You can go anywhere without being stopped by the authorities, ” he said at a Shared Prosperity Vision townhall session here yesterday.

Muhyiddin, who was answering a question about vaccination, said this did not mean that people could now start travelling across states.

“If you have not been vaccinated and do not have the digital certificate, then you cannot go. But if you have received two doses, then you can fly anywhere.”

He also indicated that international travel could soon be possible for those who had been vaccinated.

“We have started talks with several countries to allow our citizens who have received two doses with the certificate to travel, ” he said.

Interstate travel is still not allowed at present under the conditional and recovery MCO.

In George Town, National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme coordinating Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the incentives and easing of restrictions for those who had two doses of the vaccine was a measure to encourage more Malaysians to register for the vaccination.

“So far, we have 7.5 million or 30% of the target number who have registered.

“The government has targeted 24.2 million people out of the 33.7 million population.

“In the future, if you have received two doses, you may be given certain allowances, ” he told reporters at the Caring Society Complex here yesterday.

The complex has now been converted into a vaccination centre.

Khairy also said more vaccination centres would be set up across the country and it would be done in tandem with the increase in registrations.

“Currently, between 100,000 and 200,000 people are vaccinated weekly. By June this year, we hope to immunise at least a million people a week, ” he said.

He believed that the “wait-and-see” approach prevalent among those who had yet to register would change when the second phase of the immunisation programme begins on April 19 for senior citizens and those with chronic illnesses.