PUTRAJAYA needs to come out with a policy to ensure the undocumented workers in the country get vaccinated, says state executive councillor Jagdeep Singh Deo.
The Penang Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman stressed the urgency to address this issue as the number of undocumented migrants was unknown.
“The entire vaccination policy that is going on in our country will not succeed if we are unable to address this issue.
“Therefore, the Federal Government must look into this matter and amnesty must be given to employers to ensure their undocumented workers get their jabs.
“For Penang, we know that the foreign workers made up a large number of Covid-19 cases in the state.
“In the state, there are about 100,000 documented foreign workers who are largely staying in their dormitories. “Through this effort, we hope that they won’t affect the locals who are residing in housing schemes.
“That’s why, it is utmost important for us to make sure this ‘hidden population’ is getting their vaccines,” he told reporters after handing food baskets to the charitable homes at Ramakrishna Ashrama in Scotland Road today.
There were six charitable homes, namely Ramakrishna Ashrama, Cheshire Home, Persatuan Syukur Penyayang, Wisma Yatim, Sekolah Kanak-Kanak Terencat Akal and Little Sisters of the Poor. They received 60 food baskets, comprising basic necessities.
Jagdeep noted the predicaments suffered by the homes during the Covid-19 pandemic period.
“I will do my best to provide assistance to them in these challenging times,” he said, adding that a total of RM1.16 million had been spent for the places of worship, infrastructure works, contribution to schools, food baskets and other related programmes for his Datok Keramat constituency since 2018.
On the vaccination rate in Penang, Jagdeep said 95.3% of adult population have received their first jab while 78.9% of adult population have gotten their second dose as of now.
“We are doing well at the moment, especially with the vaccination effort involving teenagers aged from 12 to 17.
“Everything is going smoothly as of now,” he added.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Alissala Thian