In a statement, it has proposed that the vaccinations be done at the malls themselves rather than having the staff go to vaccination centres, so as not to interrupt business operations.

It said the RM50 charged to each recipient would defray malls’ expenses and cover the services of personnel from the health ministry’s ProtectHealth Corporation.

RM10 will be charged per vaccine to cover expenses by the malls while the service charge for administering the jabs would be RM15 for each dose. With two doses administered, the total costs would be RM50.

It said this followed several meetings with the authorities about this public-private partnership, adding that it was decided malls would subsidise most of the costs but be allowed to charge a minimal fee.

The total cost of the vaccination drive would be between RM100 and RM150 per person depending on the number of available doses, registrants and the time it takes to finish all jabs.

“We are distraught over (the) negative comments in the media that malls are profiteering from this exercise.

“The primary purpose of this partnership is to vaccinate all employees of shopping malls as well as their business outlets. We believe that once this is done, our malls will be a much safer place for the public,” it said.

With more than 50 malls already stating their interest in the programme, it said the details would be finalised soon with the vaccination drive expected to be rolled out by the end of the month.

Previously, domestic trade and consumer affairs minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said he was working with the Covid-19 immunisation task force to roll out a programme for economic frontliners in the retail sector.

He said more than 500,000 workers would benefit from this and that his ministry was tasked with coordinating the programme.

FMT has reached out to the science, technology and innovation ministry for comment.

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