According to a document on the decision made late last month and sighted by FMT, no action will be taken against the army personnel but the couple will have to undergo mandatory counselling by military authorities.
“Both the army personnel and their spouses will have to be interviewed and counselled by their camp commanders.
“Soldiers must encourage their spouses to do so in the interest of their personal health, community and the army as a whole,” it said.
It is not known if this decision also involves the navy and air force but an officer familiar with the issue said such decisions are normally made by the top armed forces leadership and involve all wings. “It should be across the board.”
FMT reached out to the armed forces authorities but they declined to comment. It is understood that the army chief will be meeting a team of selected media next Monday to explain several issues related to vaccination of military personnel.
A highly placed army source said the mandatory vaccination order made for all military personnel under the Armed Forces Act 1972 remains.
This issue is now hogging the limelight after army sergeant Wan Ramly Wan Seman was given a dishonourable discharge on Aug 26 after he refused to be vaccinated.
The non-commissioned officer who had served for more than 19 years with the Royal Malay Regiment with his last base at Kem Rasah in Negeri Sembilan, lost his monthly pension of about RM2,200 which he could have qualified for in a year.
Wan Ramly was counselled several times unsuccessfully before he was charged for insubordination and sacked after the authorities declined his request for a court martial. It is understood that he has engaged a legal team to seek justice in court.
Army chief Zamrose Mohd Zain had said the soldier would be re-enlisted if he agrees to be vaccinated.
The issue of Malaysians refusing to be vaccinated is escalating with about 30,000 civil servants and hundreds of teachers opting out. The education ministry has told these teachers that they will not be allowed to do face-to-face teaching.
The public services department said it will reach out to the civil servants who are refusing to get the jabs. The government says it is also studying the possibility of making it mandatory for all.
Cuepacs has urged the government to make it mandatory for all civil servants to be vaccinated in the interest of the future of the nation.