Selangor Sultan says surprised state received over 600,000 Covid-19 vaccine doses only so far, when it has 6.5 million residents

(MMO) – The Selangor Sultan today expressed surprise that the federal government has so far sent out only more than 600,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines to Selangor, instead of the 2.9 million initially claimed.

In a statement, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah said the amount of Covid-19 vaccines currently already received by Selangor is “unfair” in light of the state’s population size.

“His Royal Highness was terkejut (shocked) when it was confirmed by the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) that up to June 1, 2021, Selangor only received 615,210 doses of Covid-19 vaccine, and not 2.9 million doses as claimed before this.

“His Royal Highness further stressed that it is not fair when the ratio of the total supply of vaccine doses currently is not balanced with the total population of all the residents in Selangor numbering 6.5 million,” the state Ruler said in a statement issued on his behalf by his private secretary Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani.

The Selangor Sultan also pointed out that the state is the biggest contributor of Malaysia’s gross domestic product, and that priority should be given to this state.

Earlier in the statement, the Selangor Sultan expressed his sadness at the daily Covid-19 statistics in Selangor with the daily number of new Covid-19 cases always increasing and with the total cumulative number of positive cases in the state at 203,520 as of June 7, along with a worrying death toll of 961 deaths so far in the state up to June 7.

In comparison, the total cumulative number of Covid-19 cases recorded in Malaysia up to June 7 stands at 622,086, while the national death toll so far from Covid-19 up to June 7 is at 3,460.

Based on Malay Mail’s calculations, that would mean 32.7 per cent or almost one-third of the country’s Covid-19 cases so far were detected in Selangor, while 27.7 per cent of the country’s Covid-19 deaths were in Selangor.

Based on the latest census data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia which carries out census surveys every 10 years, the Census 2010 figures showed Selangor to be the most populous state in the country and one of the more densely populated states. Selangor was ranked fifth in population density, after Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Putrajaya and Labuan.

Given the Covid-19 figures in Selangor, the Selangor Sultan expressed his hope that the Special Committee on Covid-19 Vaccine Supply (JKJAV) would expedite and increase the number of Covid-19 vaccine doses supplied for Selangor residents.

The Selangor Sultan also expressed a desire for the number of Covid-19 vaccine administration centres (PPV) in Selangor to be increased, especially in rural areas, adding that vaccine jabs through drive-throughs or mobile clinics can speed up the Covid-19 vaccination process and expand the reach of the vaccination.

The Selangor Sultan also expressed disappointment that anti-vaccine groups exist in Selangor, urging the public to not be influenced by such groups and stressing that vaccines can help save lives from the dangerous Covid-19 pandemic.

The Selangor Sultan also praised the Selangor state government for aggressively carrying out free Covid-19 swab tests for the public throughout the state, while also advising those who have already received their Covid-19 vaccination to remain alert and cautious.

The Selangor Sultan also urged everyone to continue to comply with the government’s Covid-19 standard operating procedures, including by staying at home if they do not have important matters to handle outside, wearing face masks, ensuring physical distancing and always ensuring personal hygiene.