M’sia Proposing ‘Universal Certification’ Whereby Vaccinated People Can Travel Between SG & MY Without Quarantine

It’s a bold move, but one that may very well solve the complications across both sides of the causeway.

According to The Straits Times, the Transport Minister of Malaysia Wee Ka Siong has floated a daring plan to his Singapore counterpart Ong Ye Kung aka Daniel Dae Kim lookalike:

To permit a “universal certification” for those who have received their immunisation vaccines.

“And what’s that all about?” you ask.

Well, simply put…

It would allow eligible individuals to travel between both countries, as well as other countries in the region.

M’sia Proposing ‘Universal Certification’ Whereby Vaccinated People Can Travel Between SG & MY Without Quarantine

The revelation comes after an equally vital announcement: apparently, Malaysia had received its first shipment of coronavirus vaccines on Sunday (21 February) morning, followed by a consignment from Singapore the same afternoon.

According to the news report, the shipments constituted a total of 312,390 doses – which will be delegated to some 16 secret spots nationwide.

The vaccination roll-out has reportedly been carried forward to 26 February. Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Director-General of Health Noor Hisham Abdullah are expected to be vaccinated first.

“They will receive their first injections after the Cabinet meeting,” said Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

500,000 individuals, largely comprising healthcare workers, will be prioritised in the first phase of the vaccination process.

High-risk individuals will follow suit, before the general adult population is roped in.

It is speculated that Malaysia will administer somewhere between 75,000 and 150,000 doses per day.

Meanwhile, a second shipment of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines will turn up on 26 Feb, and subsequently at fortnightly intervals.

These developments have led Dr Wee to contemplate the notion of a “universal certification” – that will serve to resuscitate the local aviation industries.

“This matter will be brought to Wisma Putra, to accept a certification along with reciprocating countries,” he said.

“The matter is being discussed. As the vaccination process is ongoing, we will follow-up… possibly there will be no need to quarantine any more. This can revive the aviation industry in Malaysia and regionally,” he added.

Results of the discussion are, at the current moment, still unclear.

But Netizens Are Not Buying It

Though the move would undeniably be for a good cause, netizens on Reddit have largely found themselves on the fence due to one single notion:

Corruption.

Many, in particular, felt that the occasion would give rise to a plethora of fake certs and potentially even bribes.

To circumvent the notion, one gave a rather plausible suggestion.

Whether it will live to see the end of the tunnel, however, is another question altogether.

After all, this is akin to a vaccine passport; something that WHO has disapproved of. For more information about COVID-19 passport, click here.

Featured Image: nashriq mohd / Shutterstock.com