PRESS STATEMENT
KUALA LUMPUR (26 JANUARY 2021) – The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) urges the Government to provide free COVID-19 vaccine for all including the vulnerable communities, refugees, migrants, stateless persons, the detainees in the detention centres and prison inmates, without discrimination based on their nationality status.
SUHAKAM notes that the Government has established the Special Committee on Ensuring Access to COVID-19 Vaccine Supply (JKJAV) in 2020 to look into the matters relating to the procurement and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. According to the updates provided by the Government in December 2020, the current supply of the COVID-19 vaccine will allow 82.8% of Malaysians to receive the vaccine.
The right to health is a basic human right enjoyed by everyone. The access to healthcare, including vaccines, is an essential aspect of the right to health. The vulnerable communities, the refugees, migrant and undocumented workers and stateless persons face the risk of falling through the cracks in the current health system for many reasons including their status and nationality, and inability to afford the healthcare costs. It was reported that there are approximately 2.5 million documented migrant workers in the country, and this does not include the number of undocumented migrant workers as there is no clear data on this. In addition, there have been cases of COVID-19 infections in the detention centres and prisons. It is therefore important to take this into consideration when the Government distributes the COVID-19 vaccine.
SUHAKAM stresses that COVID-19 does not discriminate, it affects everyone including these vulnerable communities. SUHAKAM takes note of the news reports in the first week of January 2021 that JKJAV planned to suggest free vaccination for migrant workers in the country. In this regard, SUHAKAM hopes that JKJAV will look into this matter and ensure free COVID-19 vaccination for all including migrant and undocumented workers, refugees, stateless persons and the detainees in the detention centres and prison inmates.
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Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
26 January 2021
Media queries: Contact Mrs. Norashikin Hamzah at 03-2612 5687 / 019-621 5336 or shikin@suhakam.org.my
KENYATAAN MEDIA
KUALA LUMPUR (26 JANUARI 2021) – Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (SUHAKAM) menggesa Kerajaan untuk memberikan vaksin COVID-19 secara percuma kepada semua termasuk golongan rentan, pelarian, migran, orang tanpa kewarganegaraan, tahanan dalam pusat tahanan dan banduan dalam penjara tanpa diskriminasi berdasarkan status kewarganegaraan mereka.
SUHAKAM mengambil maklum bahawa Kerajaan telah menubuhkan Jawatankuasa Khas Jaminan Akses Bekalan Vaksin COVID-19 (JKJAV) pada tahun 2020 bagi meneliti perkara-perkara berkaitan perolehan dan pengagihan vaksin COVID-19. Menurut perkembangan yang dimaklumkan oleh Kerajaan pada bulan Disember 2020, bekalan vaksin COVID-19 pada masa ini akan membolehkan 82.8% rakyat Malaysia menerima vaksin tersebut.
Hak kepada kesihatan adalah hak asasi yang sepatutnya dinikmati oleh semua. Akses kepada penjagaan kesihatan, termasuk vaksin adalah satu aspek penting bagi hak kepada kesihatan. Golongan rentan, pelarian, pekerja migran dan pekerja tanpa dokumen dan orang tanpa kewarganegaraan menghadapi risiko dipinggirkan dalam sistem kesihatan sedia ada atas pelbagai sebab termasuk status dan kewarganegaraan mereka, dan ketidakmampuan untuk menanggung kos penjagaan kesihatan. Ia telah dilaporkan bahawa terdapat lebih kurang 2.5 juta pekerja migran berdokumen di negara ini, dan ini tidak termasuk bilangan pekerja migran tanpa dokumen kerana tiada data yang jelas tentang perkara ini. Tambahan pula, terdapat kes jangkitan COVID-19 di pusat tahanan dan penjara. Oleh itu, adalah penting agar perkara ini dipertimbangkan apabila Kerajaan mengagihkan vaksin COVID-19.
SUHAKAM menekankan bahawa COVID-19 tidak mendiskriminasi dan ia memberikan kesan kepada semua termasuk golongan rentan. SUHAKAM mengambil maklum tentang beberapa laporan berita pada minggu pertama Januari 2021 yang menyatakan bahawa JKJAV merancang untuk mencadangkan agar vaksinasi percuma diberikan kepada pekerja migran dalam negara. Dalam hal ini, SUHAKAM berharap JKJAV akan memperhalusi perkara ini dan memastikan agar vaksinasi percuma diberikan kepada semua termasuk pekerja migran, pekerja tanpa dokumen, pelarian, orang tanpa kewarganegaraan, tahanan dalam pusat tahanan dan banduan dalam penjara.
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Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
26 Januari 2021
Pertanyaan Media: Sila hubungi Pn. Norashikin Hamzah melalui 03-2612 5687 / 019-621 5336 atau shikin@suhakam.org.my
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