KUALA LUMPUR:The Association of Malaysia's Maritime Professionals (IKMAL) has suggested that Malaysia’s seafarers be given the priority to receive the vaccination in the first phase of the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme.
In a statement today, IKMAL said seafarers who have been vaccinated would be able to return to serve on board ships and continue to support the critical maritime transport supply chain.
It said the move could also reduce the travel restrictions imposed on seafarers, who were among the high-risk groups, thus avoiding them from being stranded on board ships after their contracts have been completed.
The statement added that the maritime transportation sector played a critical economic role and provided vital logistics support during the COVID-19 pandemic, and almost 90 per cent of the global trade were transported by sea.
“Within this incessant maritime logistics movement, there are 1.6 million seafarers globally who ensure the ships are in continuous operation, transporting a myriad of goods, including fuel, foodstuff and medical items,” it said.
IKMAL said Malaysia’s seafarers were also involved in the ecosystem and it was estimated that 40,000 of them have continued their services despite facing various difficulties.
“Based on the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) data, there are about 400,000 seafarers who are trapped on board their vessels globally and were unable to return to their home countries upon completion of their service contracts due to travel restrictions,” it said.
According to IKMAL, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has also urged that seafarers be given the priority to receive the COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible, adding that Singapore has announced to prioritise maritime workers for vaccination.
Therefore, IKMAL said it would communicate with the relevant agencies to bring the matter to the Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who is the minister coordinating the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme.
On Feb 4, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the government would roll out the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme at the end of this month, and targeted 80 per cent of the country’s population, or approximately 26.5 people, to receive the vaccine free of charge in three phases.
The first phase from February to April will involve some 500,000 medical and non-medical frontliners, while the second phase from April to August is for the high-risk groups, namely the elderly aged 60 and above and vulnerable groups with morbidity problems such as heart disease, obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure including persons with disabilities.
The third phase involving adults aged 18 and above will be carried out from May until February next year.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Sun Feb 14 2021
Seafarers who have been vaccinated would be able to return to serve on board ships and continue to support the critical maritime transport supply chain. AP pic
Pasangan beregu badminton Soon Huat-Shevon kongsi gambar praperkahwinan
Pasangan beregu campuran negara, Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai, hari ini berkongsi gambar praperkahwinan mereka, yang dijangka akan dilangsungkan tidak lama lagi.
Kementerian Perpaduan lancar Inisiatif Harmoni Madani
Kementerian Perpaduan Negara hari ini melancarkan Inisiatif Harmoni Madani.
Kes 1MDB: Najib percaya Blackstone dikawal Arab Saudi, Raja Abdullah - Saksi
Saksi memberitahu Najib percaya bahawa syarikat Blackstone Asia Real Estate Partners dikawal oleh kerajaan Arab Saudi dan Raja Arab Saudi.
Apple dalam perbincangan guna teknologi OpenAI dalam iOS 18 - Laporan
iOS 18 akan membawakan perubahan paling besar untuk sistem operasi iPhone tahun ini dan integrasi sistem AI akan akhirnya didedahkan.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: BN pamer komitmen tinggi pastikan kemenangan calon - Loke
BN menunjukkan komitmen tinggi dalam memastikan kemenangan calon PH, pada PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu.
Empat maut, dua pacuan empat roda bertembung
Empat individu maut dalam kemalangan melibatkan dua pacuan empat roda di Kilometer 78, Jalan Kota Bharu-Gua Musang tengah malam tadi.
Uqasha Senrose selamat bersalin, beri nama anak Uqaira
Pelakon Uqasha Senrose mengumumkan telah selamat melahirkan puteri sulungnya pada awal pagi Sabtu.
Thomas Cup: Permulaan cemerlang buat Malaysia
Malaysia bermula cemerlang pada perlawanan pembukaan Piala Thomas 2024, dengan menewaskan Hong Kong 5-0 hari ini.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Proses penamaan calon lancar - Polis Selangor
Proses penamaan calon bagi PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu hari ini berjalan lancar tanpa sebarang insiden tidak diingini.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Pembangunan anak muda, wanita menjadi fokus Pang
Agenda pembangunan anak muda dan wanita akan menjadi fokus utama calon PH Pang Sock Tao, pada PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu.
KJ tak terfikir untuk kembali ke FAM
Khairy berkata terdapat calon-calon lain yang lebih layak untuk menerajui badan induk itu berbanding beliau.
KJ puas hati Lokman Adam minta maaf, setuju bayar pampasan
Dakwa plaintif, kenyataan fitnah dalam saman itu membawa maksud antaranya beliau menipu orang ramai dengan mendakwa telah diberi vaksin COVID-19.
Keluar Sekejap ambil alih podsiar Jugador TV, rancang terus perluas empayar
Keluar Sekejap mengumumkan pengambilalihan podsiar luar pertama, iaitu Jugador TV.
KJ akhirnya dapat isi PADU selepas identiti dicuri
Khairy Jamaluddin akhirnya berjaya mendaftar dalam sistem PADU selepas mendakwa akaunnya telah didaftarkan oleh individu yang tidak dikenali.
Kes saman KJ terhadap Jamal Yunos diteruskan
Kes saman fitnah bekas Khairy Jamaluddin terhadap Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunos, berhubung satu kenyataan media ketika PAU 2022 akan diteruskan di Mahkamah Tinggi pada Selasa.
Selepas DJ, Khairy jadi model pula
KJ kini menjadi model untuk sebuah produk minuman tempatan dan baju Melayu untuk sebuah syarikat pengeluar pakaian raya terkemuka.
Pempengaruh diingatkan hati-hati kendali podcast - Fahmi
Kerajaan akan melakukan pemantauan dari semasa ke semasa serta meneliti sebarang tindakan sekiranya perlu terhadap mereka yang membuat kandungan kurang membina.
‘On a serious note? Habis tadi tu tak serius?’... Rafidah minta KJ, Shahril 'tebalkan telinga'
KJ, Shahril sampai terkedu dengan jawapan 'savage' Tan Sri Rafidah. Ikuti kompilasi menarik dari podcast #KeluarSekejap episod ke-79 ini...
Akta Parlimen Berpenggal tidak demokratik - Khairy
Khairy berkata, cadangan Ahmad Zahid tidak demokratik tetapi jika ia usul seperti yang berlaku di UK, perkara itu boleh diperbincangkan.
Ganja dalam perubatan: Khairy serah kepada Menteri Kesihatan baharu
Keputusan sama ada penggunaan ganja dalam perubatan diteruskan atau tidak, diserahkan kepada Menteri Kesihatan yang baharu dilantik Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.