Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, meanwhile, said assistance for the rural people was also slow and has announced a “Sejiwa” package for his constituents.
“I have seen pictures on television of people driving cars and being vaccinated, while still sitting in the driver’s seat. It must have sped things up. So, send the teams to the people. Don’t wait for them to come,” Mahathir said in a statement.
By now, he said everyone should know the best way to reduce Covid-19 infection was through vaccines.
“It does not matter which vaccine, whether Western, Russian or Chinese. Vaccination has reduced the number of new cases in the UK, US and apparently in China,” he added.
But in Malaysia, so far only about 3% of 32 million people have been vaccinated while the number has reached 40% in the US, which has a population of almost 330 million.
Mahathir reminded that under the Emergency, the government has the power to seize property that can be used as vaccination centres. For instance, in Langkawi, the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition exhibition centre and several hotels are empty.
“Seize them and add more vaccine centres,” he added.
The Langkawi MP further urged the use of community halls that could be converted into temporary vaccination centres.
He also said Putrajaya should stop its monopoly of vaccines.
“Let registered pharmaceutical companies import the vaccines and let them do the vaccination. There are responsible companies that will not cheat. Records should be kept of course. The important thing is to increase by many times the rate of vaccination,” Mahathir said.
Syed Saddiq: No one in Muar to go hungry during total lockdown
Meanwhile, Syed Saddiq said government assistance for the affected people was slow.
He has instead started reaching out to the community in his Muar constituency, announcing a stimulus package “Sejiwa” using his June salary and profits from his business.
Syed Saddiq, the MUDA co-founder, said government assistance was slow, prompting him to announce a special Sejiwa package for those in Muar. It is to ensure no one goes hungry or sick while under total lockdown that starts tomorrow till June 14, he said.
Under the programme, 1,000 families will be given a food basket, and assistance to register for vaccination, with transport service to get vaccinated in Johor Bahru.
“We will also offer subsidies for RTK-Ag Rapid Test Kit) Covid test,” he added.
The money, he said, would come from his salary for the month of June, and profits from his Syed Saddiq Kurta and Jalan Tegak merchandise sales.
Previously, the 28-year old had offered 973 laptops and tablets to poor families in Muar and under the Sejiwa package, he is giving another 300 tablets to students in his constituency.
He has also given food baskets to 7,000 families previously.