PETALING JAYA: The special muzakarah committee meeting this evening decided that it is compulsory for Muslims, specifically those identified by the government, to get vaccinated against Covid-19.
In a statement, de facto religious affairs minister Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri said the vaccine was meant to protect one from diseases and was allowed by the religion.
“Vaccination is proven to be a preventive measure (against diseases),” he said.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin confirmed that the government had signed an agreement with AstraZeneca of the UK to procure another 6.4 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.
This third agreement, after the government signed with Covax to buy 10% of its vaccine needs and Pfizer to cover 20% of Malaysia’s requirement last month, will provide immunisation for another 10% of the population.
However, several quarters had previously questioned the “halal” status of these Covid-19 vaccines.
The Kelantan government called for a study to be carried out to ensure the vaccine was shariah-compliant, while Pahang mufti Abdul Rahman Osman expressed hope that the vaccine would be halal to ensure peace of mind among Muslims.
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