FMM lauds govt’s efforts to expedite immunisation for manufacturing sector through PIKAS
15 Jun 2021
The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) has lauded the government’s efforts to expedite Covid-19 immunisation in the manufacturing sector through Program Imunisasi Industri Covid-19 Kerjasama Awam Swasta (PIKAS).
In a statement today, FMM president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai said the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) had been tasked with the support of the private sector to coordinate the public-private partnership (PPP) immunisation initiative to accelerate effective Covid-19 vaccine roll-outs to employees in the manufacturing sector.
Soh noted that under the initiative announced on Saturday, the government will provide vaccines without costs, but participating companies are required to fully bear administration costs for their employees.
“Vaccination through PIKAS is implemented through two models: Model 1 is vaccination at a common use vaccination centre (PPV), while Model 2 refers to on-site vaccination initiated by a company to be within factory premises or at an approved location.
“Participation in PIKAS is voluntary for both the company and the employee,” he added.
Soh said the FMM encourages its members, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to choose Model 1 — vaccination at a common use PPV — because of higher clarity, given that the cost is fixed and the common use PPV will be operationalised from June 28.
The FMM is also advocating the use of mobile vaccination units or vehicles to address difficulties in transporting employees to and from vaccination centres.
“Mobile vaccination units can be established in industrial areas where there is a high density of SMEs with a smaller number of employees or in rural areas where employees might have difficulty getting access to vaccination centres.
“This will greatly assist employees, especially SME companies, to receive the Covid-19 vaccine,” said Soh.
The FMM president assured that the federation stands committed to playing its part as economic frontliners in the fight against Covid-19, and in support of the government’s efforts, the FMM had mobilised its network of branches nationwide since mid-May to gather the interest of manufacturing companies to participate in the PPP model proposed by MITI.
“This exercise has generated interest from over 1,200 companies nationwide, comprising more than 180,000 employees, with many more member companies indicating interest to participate.
“Now officially launched as PIKAS, this programme is timely for the manufacturing sector to finally being able to participate in an accelerated immunisation programme,” said Soh.
Source: The Edge Markets
