Talent & Tech Asia Summit 2024
Malaysia's PIKAS will be expanded into other states and industries from July 2021: Minister Khairy

Malaysia's PIKAS will be expanded into other states and industries from July 2021: Minister Khairy

On 16 June, PIKAS was launched in four states: Selangor, Johor, Penang, and Sarawak, with a focus on employees working at industries like electrical and electronics and food processing.

Malaysia’s Program lmunisasi lndustri COVID-19 Kerjasama Awam-Swasta (PIKAS) will be expanded nationwide starting next month, Minister of the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme (Programme Imunisasi COVID-19 Kebangsaan, or PICK), Khairy Jamaluddin has announced.

The programme is currently being piloted in Johor, Penang, Sarawak, and Selangor.

Addressing this in a press conference on Monday (28 June), cited in a report by The Star, Minister Khairy said a decision would be made in the “next two or three days”. Currently, he and his team are “finalising the number of vaccines to be allocated under PIKAS.”

PIKAS was launched on 16 June as an effort to vaccinate those working at companies in electrical and electronics, food processing, iron and steel, to name a few.

As further cited by The Star, Minister Khairy assured that the number of vaccines used for PIKAS would not affect the country’s progress in its PICK programme.

“So, we will be expanding this in July to several states. Eventually, all states will have their own on-site vaccination centres (PPV),” he told reporters.

Beyond the confinement of states, Minister Khairy added that the PIKAS programme would also be extended to employees from the construction industry next month.

In a separate conference, on 29 June, Minister Khairy addressed the progress of Malaysia’s PICK programme with regard to businesses and industries.

Based on Malay Mail’s report, he highlighted that the government’s current focus is to complete the vaccination process for the industries sector that are allowed to operate during the movement control order (PKP) - before looking at other industries such as tourism.

“We will first focus on industries that are operating during the movement control. (Currently), many factories have to operate. Only after that, we will look at the other sectors.

“Perhaps, when we get to Phase Two or Three (of the National Recovery Plan), I will have talks with the Chief Minister (Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali) and shift our focus to the tourism sector such as hospitality, hotels, trishaw riders and so on,” Minister Khairy shared.

According to The Star, Senior Minister and Minister of International Trade and Industry, Dato’ Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali highlighted that as of 25 June, there is a total of 2,082 companies nationwide with 301,050 workers who applied for PIKAS.

This showed an increase in participation - as what was previously highlighted on 12 June that there were approximately 500 companies with a total of 106,591 workers looking to participate.

Image/Minister Khairy Jamaluddin's Facebook

Follow us on Telegram @humanresourcesonline or click here for all the latest weekly HR and manpower news from around the region!

Follow us on Telegram and on Instagram @humanresourcesonline for all the latest HR and manpower news from around the region!

Free newsletter

Get the daily lowdown on Asia's top Human Resources stories.

We break down the big and messy topics of the day so you're updated on the most important developments in Asia's Human Resources development – for free.

subscribe now open in new window