The PKR president said it would be better for the government to instead approach the anti-vaxxer group to persuade them with science to counter any misconceptions they had about the vaccines, Sinar Harian reported.

“I don’t back anti-vaxxers, but they argue the case against vaccines well. So we need to counter them by putting forward stronger arguments.

“If they cite scientific studies, we need to respond with studies that carry more credibility to convince them. There is no need to threaten them,” he was quoted as saying by the Malay daily.

Putrajaya, Anwar said, should also focus on vaccinating those who were keen on getting themselves inoculated.

Yesterday, health minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the government would take a vigorous approach against those who refused to be vaccinated by “continuing to make their life difficult”.

However, he said those who cannot be vaccinated due to health reasons would not be affected as they would be provided exemption under the MySejahtera.