Joint Statement

 

Covid-19 Vaccines for Malaysia:

A Call for Transparency in Registration & Purchasing

 

 

Citizens’ Health Initiative

citizenhealthinitiative@gmail.com

 

 

December 28, 2020

 

 

With the exception of the People’s Republic of China and a few other countries like New Zealand, Vietnam, Cuba, Senegal, and Kerala state in India, which seem to have largely brought Covid-19 under control without the help of vaccines, most countries are struggling with succeeding waves of the pandemic and a likely global spread of a more contagious mutant of SARS-CoV-2. 

 The collateral damage to economic and social well-being worldwide has been unprecedented, and it underscores the urgently felt need for vaccines and a return to some semblance of normalcy.

 Despite a major lapse with a 16,000 plus person religious gathering which erupted into several clusters locally and in the region (March 2020), Malaysia had performed creditably earlier.

Sources of Current Outbreaks

Unfortunately, since October 2020, a resurgence of clusters emerged from non-compliant returnees from abroad, and porous Sabah state border controls, exacerbated by lax enforcement of SOPs during the September 2020 Sabah state elections.

 Immigration and health authorities were not sufficiently pro-active to prevent its further spread in the peninsula, resulting in numerous outbreaks, especially among workers in congested accommodations and workplaces, and in prisons and detention centres.

 Unlike Singapore’s experience with outbreaks in migrant dormitory complexes, we in Malaysia are additionally reaping the consequences of decades of corrupt mismanagement of labor migration, viz. a persistently large pool of undocumented migrant workers (currently estimated at 1.2-1.5 million) who have strong incentives to avoid contact with government agencies.  

Senior Minister Ismail Sabri’s disastrous U-turn in going after undocumented migrants (after initially promising them sanctuary and no arrests and deportation during the pandemic) greatly complicated pandemic control efforts, in particular the crucially important contact tracing.

As generally younger daily-paid workers, more likely to ride out the milder symptoms of Covid-19 infection, they are now even less inclined to cooperate in testing and isolation, given the risks of arrest, detention and deportation.

We thus face the prospect of protracted and repeated seeding of the general population by the asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, especially undocumented workers reluctant to seek treatment unless severely ill. (We should also note that active avoidance of contact tracing and testing involves others disinclined to divulge network contacts or contact history, e.g. underworld elements, drug and sexual encounters, etc).

As in many other countries, many Malaysians support efforts to secure vaccines to enhance pandemic control efforts.

Procuring Vaccines for Malaysia

The minister for Science, Technology, and Innovation Khairy Jamaluddin has announced commitments to purchase a basket of Covid-19 vaccines, and options for further orders[1].

Khairy Jamaluddin needs to be transparent about the technical rationales, criteria, and pricing for his ministry’s purchasing decisions.  In particular, he needs to respond to very pertinent points raised by the Covid Research Centre (KL)[2], chest specialist Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj[3], and others, which include the following:

·         there is currently little information on long-term safety beyond 2 months or on durability of protection, for all candidate or approved vaccines (any late-manifesting adverse effects will only be detected by conscientious follow-up surveillance, monitoring, and reporting systems).  This is especially pertinent for novel mRNA vaccines, in comparison with the more familiar inactivated whole-virus vaccines with which we have decades of experience

·         the decision by the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to grant immunity to Pfizer from legal liability for late-manifesting adverse effects, and the Pfizer CEO declining to be among the early vaccinees (claiming selflessness in prioritising those more vulnerable, in contrast to some vaccine researchers who vaccinated themselves even before phase 1 human trials) perhaps reflects the true risk perception or assessment of the pharmaceutical corporations (whose profitable research and development work has been highly subsidised by governments for ‘vaccine nationalist’ reasons)

·         stringent logistic requirements (deep-freeze or ultra-low temperature facilities) for the mass deployment of mRNA vaccines to under-served remote areas

·         one additional advantage of the inactivated whole-virus vaccine is that the host immune response is mounted against a spectrum of antigens from the whole virus, rather than against a much more limited array of antigenic sub-components of say, the spike protein.  This could provide some insurance against mutations, say in the coding sequences for the spike protein, which might render vaccines directed solely against the spike protein wholly or partially ineffective.

Beyond the immediate urgency of securing access to adequate quantities of safe, efficacious and affordable vaccines, the larger question of our continuing dependency on foreign vaccine developers, producers and suppliers remains unaddressed.

 

National Capabilities in Production of Medicines and Vaccines

Consider Cuba, a nation of 12 million citizens hamstrung by a 60-year economic blockade by the US, which has invested in human and material resources to become a biotech power-house:  recombinant hepatitis B vaccines, synthetic polysaccharide vaccine against Haemophilus influenzae type B[4], CIMAvax vaccine against lung cancer[5], and innovative treatment of diabetic foot ulcers.

Cuba’s repeated offers of scientific collaboration in R&D, and joint ventures to position Malaysia as a regional production and distribution platform for Southeast Asia[6], have elicited only a lukewarm response.  Tan Sri Dr Abu Bakar Suleiman, the retired Director General of Health, has shown greater foresight and entrepreneurial verve as chairman of Bioven[7], which is shepherding CIMAvax through US-FDA and UK phase 3 clinical trials[8].

It is not too late to make the necessary strategic decisions for a promising growth area (pharmaceuticals and vaccines) in the national and regional economies of the newly launched RCEP.

 

 for more information/clarifications, please contact:

 

Chan Chee Khoon     cheekhoon50@gmail.com

Chee Heng Leng        cheehengleng@gmail.com

 Endorsers

 

Aliran

Citizens’ Health Initiative

Freedom

Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH)

North South Initiative

Pengguna Pahang

Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)

Pergerakan Tenaga Akademik Malaysia (GERAK)

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)

 

 

 

 

 

---

[1] Malaysia needs 90 to 120 days just to check Pfizer's vaccine? Are you kidding DG? https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/malaysia-needs-90-120-days-just-check-pfizers-vaccine-are-you-kidding-dg;  Malaysia Reserves Option To Double Pfizer Vaccine Order https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2020/12/23/malaysia-reserves-option-to-double-pfizer-vaccine-order/#:~:text=By%20CodeBlue%20%7C%2023%20December%202020&text=KUALA%20LUMPUR%2C%20Dec%2023%20%E2%80%94%20The,the%20Malaysian%20population%20if%20needed.; Malaysia to Double AstraZeneca Vaccine Order Through Covax https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-23/malaysia-to-double-astrazeneca-vaccine-order-through-covax-deal

[2] Is the Pfizer vaccine suitable for Malaysia? https://www.astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/is-the-pfizer-vaccine-suitable-for-malaysia-272804

[3] COVID-19 vaccine: Hold your horses, let us play safe!  https://focusmalaysia.my/opinion/covid-19-vaccine-hold-your-horses-let-us-play-safe/   

[4] Synthetic Vaccine Is a Sweet Victory for Cuban Science https://science.sciencemag.org/content/305/5683/460

[5] CIMAvax: The Cuban Lung Cancer Vaccine Explained https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pguZ2d9G6g0&ab_channel=RoswellParkComprehensiveCancerCenter

[6] Cuba exploring possibility of producing vaccines in M’sia  https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/410301

[7] How biotech firm Bioven found fortune https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/health/2015/02/11/how-biotech-firm-bioven-found-fortune?view=full

[8] Roswell Park Lung Cancer Expert Shares Initial Findings from First North American Study of CIMAvax https://www.roswellpark.org/newsroom/201809-roswell-park-lung-cancer-expert-shares-initial-findings-first-north-american-study; Bioven Begins Phase III Trial of Cuban NSCLC Vaccine in UK https://ihsmarkit.com/country-industry-forecasting.html?ID=1065971583

ESPACT - GERAK Joint Conference

 

Programme

Session 1
9.00am – 10.00 am
Motivations for the 2019 Reforms and its Successes
Keynote Presentation by
Dr. Maszlee Malik, Minister of Education 2018-2020

Session 2 (video)
10.00am – 11.30 am
Roundtable: The 2019 Recommendations on Higher Education
Dr. Wan Chang Da, Dr. Rozilini Mary Fernandez-Chung, Mr UK Menon

Session 3 (video)
11.30am – 12.30 pm
The Higher Education System – System Issues
Dr. Andrew Aeria, Lt Col (Rtd). Ahmad Ghazali Abu Hassan,
Dr. Sharifah Munirah Alatas

Session 4 (video)
2.00pm – 3.00 pm
Institutional Autonomy and Accountability
Dr Wan Manan, Prof Teh Yik Koon

Session 5 (video)
3.00pm – 4.00 pm
Access to higher education – how real is this?
Dr. Ngo Sheau Shi, Dr Yuwana Podin

Session 6 (video)
4.30pm – 5.30 pm
Status of Academics in a Divided Higher Education System
Dr. Francis Loh Kok Wah, Prof Zaharom Nain

Media Statement 21 November 2020

GERAK condemns the recent violent threats made by vicious individuals against student leaders from the Universiti Malaya Association of New Youth (UMANY).

Threats of this nature – and those making these threats – have no place in civilised society. 

Unfortunately, they have become commonplace in Malaysia and often little seems to be done by the authorities to stop them and charge them or better, to educate these groups and individuals. 

This inaction or slow reaction by the authorities must change. Threats of violence against law-abiding citizens must be investigated quickly and resolved effectively.

This time around, the threats followed police investigations of a Facebook post by UMANY on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Malaysian politics. 

The UMANY students had every right as citizens to voice their concern and many of us believe they insulted no one, and certainly were not seditious. But the authorities were nonetheless swift in moving against them. 

GERAK believes the police investigation was uncalled for, akin to using a sledgehammer to strike down a fly. 

It is sad and duplicitous that, on the one hand, we urge our students to question and to be critical, yet when they are, as in the case of UMANY, we detain, interrogate and intimidate them.

In any case, UMANY has since taken down the post and apologised.

Now they are being threatened with death and personal injury. These threats of violence must be roundly condemned, investigated, and nipped in the bud. Just as the authorities were quick to detain and question the students, so must they now move just as quickly against those making these threats.

Sadly, often such threats are racially motivated and reflect blind hatred, without the perpetrator showing any sign of understanding what the issues are actually about. 

GERAK believes that this unthinking hatred, reinforced by self-serving politicians and others who should know better, must be strongly countered by everyone concerned, certainly by the authorities and those with influence at every level of Malaysian society. 

Professor Zaharom Nain

GERAK Chairman

Joint Statement: Civil Society Call For An End to Intimidation and Harassment Tactics Against UMANY and Associated Individuals

 https://www.amnesty.my/2020/11/12/civil-society-call-for-an-end-to-intimidation-and-harassment-tactics-against-umany-and-associated-individuals/

We, the undersigned organisations and endorsers, strongly condemn the continued intimidation tactics and acts of harassment being perpetrated by the State and its agencies against Universiti Malaya Association of New Youth (UMANY) members and student activists linked to the group. We call on the relevant authorities, including Universiti Malaya (UM) and other entities, to stop investigating and questioning these student leaders, and uphold academic freedom and our constitutional right to freedom of expression and free speech.

UMANY is being investigated by both UM and the police over a statement it issued following the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s advice that all Members of Parliament should support Budget 2021. Since then, seven members of UMANY, its president and vice-president, as well as two other student leaders, have been called in for questioning. A former UMANY president was also detained overnight for recording a police officer attempting to search the house of an UMANY leader, and will be charged tomorrow under Section 188 of the Penal Code. Meanwhile, the Public Service Department (JPA) has asked for show-cause letters from six JPA-sponsored UMANY members over their purported involvement on the matter. UMANY’s statement has since been retracted.

We are disappointed that the State and its agencies, including the police, continues to arbitrarily stifle freedom of speech and expression in Malaysia, a rising trend that has become apparent since the change of government earlier this year. We wish to remind the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government that freedom of speech and expression is guaranteed for all Malaysians under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution, and should not be disproportionately restricted simply because said speech or expression challenges norms or presents critical or alternative views.

The right to express views and ideas freely, without fear of interference or persecution, is an essential part of democracy. Respectful debates and expressions help us examine and critically challenge conventional wisdoms and promote heterodox views. In doing so, we foster a more informative and critical society, one that is able to articulate their own views and alternative views, safely and openly.

We risk spiralling into an undemocratic state if our government continues to censor and restrict speech and expression without due process and at the expense of fundamental civil liberties of its peoples – as is the case with the UMANY investigations. Articulating an academic view based on the Federal Constitution, as was the case in this instance, should not warrant police action. Recording a police search of a student activist’s house also should not result in criminal sanction. The police, despite issuing a statement to clarify their actions in arresting the student activist in question, have failed to justify why taking videos or photographs of police investigations could affect the confidentiality of said investigations.

Furthermore, we do not want to foster an environment which undermines accountability and good governance and where people are prohibited from questioning or criticising the government over public affairs.

Academic scholarship, on the other hand, cannot flourish in an atmosphere of censorship and disproportionate restriction of speech and expression. An open and robust environment for sharing ideas freely is crucial for learning as it allows students to think critically, challenge and engage with different perspectives. Students must remain free to inquire, study and evaluate, and gain new maturity and understanding. The participation of students in intellectual debates concerning the state of affairs of the country, therefore, should be encouraged, not discouraged. Higher education institutions must ensure that they are moulding a thinking society and supporting the promotion of multiple views – not investigating such views.

To that end, we call on the following recommendations to be adopted at once:

1.       The police and UM must, without any delay, drop their respective
investigations into UMANY, its members, former members and associated student leaders, over UMANY’s statement;

2.       JPA should uphold academic freedom and immediately withdraw the demand for show-cause letters from the JPA-sponsored UMANY members over their alleged involvement over the matter;

3.       The relevant authorities must pledge to protect UMANY members who are being harassed, cyberbullied or threatened online over their statement and ensure that those who are making such threats are dealt with in accordance with established international standards and practices, and;

4.       The PN government must ensure that freedom of expression and speech is upheld and protected at all times for all Malaysians by repealing repressive laws used to arbitrarily restrict these freedoms, in particular, the Sedition Act 1948 and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

12 November 2020

Jointly issued by:
Amnesty International Malaysia
Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
Suara Rakyat Masyarakat (SUARAM)

Endorsed by the following civil society organisations:

1.       Agora Society

2.       Aliran

3.       ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR)

4.       Beyond Borders Malaysia

5.       Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC)

6.       CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation

7.       Community Women and Workers Network (CWWN)

8.       Demokrat UM

9.       EMPOWER Malaysia

10.   ENGAGE

11.   G25 Malaysia

12.   Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia (GBM)

13.   Gindol Initiative for Civil Society Borneo

14.   Greenpeace Malaysia

15.   Growing Emerging Leaders (GEL)

16.   In Between Cultura

17.   Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia (JKOASM)

18.   Johor Yellow Flame (JYF)

19.   Justice for Sisters

20.   Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH)

21.   KLSCAH Youth

22.   LLG Cultural Development Centre Berhad

23.   Malaysia Muda

24.   Malaysian Medics International (MMI)

25.   Malaysian Students’ Global Alliance (MSGA)

26.   Malaysian Action for Justice and Unity Foundation (MAJU)

27.   National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE)

28.   North South Initiative (NSI)

29.   Oriental Hearts and Minds Study Institute (OHMSI)

30.   Our Journey

31.   Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)

32.   Pergerakan Tenaga Akademik Malaysia (GERAK)

33.   Persatuan Kesedaran dan Keadilan Iklim Malaysia – Klima Action
Malaysia KAMY

34.   Persatuan Komuniti Prihatin Selangor & KL (PRIHATIN)

35.   Persatuan Prihatin Masyarakat Lipis

36.   Persatuan Promosi Hak Asasi Manusia (PROHAM)

37.   Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor

38.   Pertubuhan SiraguGal

39.   Pusat KOMAS

40.   Research for Social Advancement (REFSA)

41.   Sabah Environmental Protection Association (SEPA)

42.   Sabah Women’s Action-Resource Group (SAWO)

43.   Sarawak Association for Peoples’ Aspirations (SAPA)

44.   Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)

45.   Sisters in Islam (SIS)

46.   Society for Equality, Respect And Trust for All Sabah (SERATA)

47.   Student Unity Front UKM

48.   Taiwan Alliance for Thai Democracy

49.   Tanah Dahai

50.   Tenaganita

51.   Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy

52.   Thai Students in Europe for Liberal Democracy

53.   The Coalition for Clean and Fair Election (BERSIH 2.0)

54.   Tindak Malaysia

55.   UM Law Society

56.   Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)

57.   Youth Era Malaysia

World Teachers Day & Malaysia Academia Day 2020

 Hari Guru Sedunia & Hari Akademia Malaysia 2020

Sila tuntun video disini.

GERAK di Astro Awani

https://youtu.be/XF6rfEglJ58

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XF6rfEglJ58#action=share

KEPIMPINAN UNIVERSITI DAN KRISIS COVID19

KENYATAAN MEDIA GERAK

MENGENAI KEPIMPINAN UNIVERSITI DAN KRISIS COVID19

GERAK ingin menarik perhatian tentang arahan penutupan universiti dan tekanan kepada mahasiswa-mahasiswi untuk pulang ke kampung pada 17 Mac 2020 dalam mana suasana sekatan perjalanan dilaksanakan keesokan harinya.

GERAK mendapati banyak kekeliruan yang timbul dengan arahan-arahan yang bertentangan. Ini telah menyebabkan para pelajar kebingungan akibat kepimpinan universiti yang kurang kewibawaan serta kurang proaktif.

Pertama, setelah arahan sekatan perjalanan diumumkan pada 16 Mac yang lalu, yang mana pihak kerajaan mengarahkan semua universiti ditutup. Pelbagai tanggapan salah kemudian wujud yang mana terdapat beberapa universiti yang mengarahkan pelajar untuk pulang ke kampung. Seharusnya apabila arahan tutup diumumkan, pelajar tidak boleh keluar kampus. Mereka hendaklah kembali ke tempat kediaman masing-masing, untuk memenuhi tujuan pengasingan yang dikeluarkan oleh Majlis Keselamatan Negara.

Penutupan universiti bukanlah bermakna pelajar diarah keluar kampus dan balik kampung, dengan berpusu-pusu ke stesen bas, keretapi atau lapangan kapalterbang. Tindakan terburu-buru oleh kepimpinan beberapa universiti amat dikesali kerana menyebabkan peningkatan risiko jangkitan Covid19 di kalangan para pelajar. Risiko ini kemudiannya meningkat apabila Ketua Polis Negara meminta mereka yang ingin melakukan perjalanan selepas jam 12.00 malam pada 17 Mac perlu ada surat kebenaran polis. Ini telah menyebabkan begitu ramai pelajar menyerbu balai-balai polis untuk mendapatkan surat tersebut.

GERAK amat berdukacita terhadap arahan-arahan yang tidak bernas dan membahayakan keselamatan dan nyawa para pelajar yang telah dikeluarkan pada 17 Mac terutamanya oleh pihak pengurusan universiti. Ianya seakan-akan tidak memikirkan implikasi serius yang bakal menimpa para pelajar dan juga orang ramai.

Kedua, GERAK amat kesal bahawa pihak Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi (KPT) tidak memberikan garis panduan yang jelas untuk mengendali situasi ini. Dalam suasana sebegini, malangnya, kepimpinan tidak menyerlah langsung. Semua ini mencerminkan ketidaksediaan pihak pemimpin atasan – di KPT dan di universiti-universiti – untuk menghadapi bencana dan kegawatan yang sudah timbul.

Seharusnya pihak Kementerian memberi petunjuk atau garis panduan yang jelas dengan mengendahkan seruan pakar perubatan untuk menenangkan suasana, agar pihak pengurusan univesiti dapat memikirkan cara terbaik untuk menangani masalah dan untuk membantu mengendalikan keadaan. Ini tidak berlaku.

Ketiga, GERAK juga berpendapat pihak perwakilan pelajar patut terlibat dalam operasi ini. Dalam keadaan sebegini, pihak universiti dan mahasiswa seharusnya berbincangan untuk kepentingan bersama, bukan hanya memberi arahan berbentuk top-down yang sesungguhnya tidak menyelesaikan masalah. Universiti adalah satu komuniti. Mahasiswa adalah golongan penting dalam komuniti ini; tiada pelajar, tiada Universiti. Mereka juga paling jelas tentang situasi mereka sendiri .

Keempat, pihak kakitangan akademik harus juga memainkan peranan dalam memberi buah fikiran untuk menangani kemelut yang wujud ini demi kepentingan awam dan kesejahteraan penduduk. Perbincangan mengenai langkah-langkah terbaik untuk dilaksanakan juga perlu digalakkan, apakah sekatan penuh, sekatan separa atau usaha mitigasi yang perlu diutamakan dalam menghadapi serangan Covid19? Pihak pengurusan universiti harus menggunakan kepintaran dan kreativiti mereka sendiri. Bukankah universiti diterajui oleh sarjana-sarjana yang disegani?

GERAK mendesak peristiwa yang penuh dengan keliruan dan membahayakan keselamatan para pelajar tidak lagi berulang. Sekarang, setiap universiti patut sudah ada pelan tindakan untuk menyambut balik para pelajarnya setelah tamat Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan. Dalam keadaan sekarang, pihak pemimpin seharusnya mengunakan kepakaran yang sedia ada dan tidak hanya bertindak dalam kegelapan.

EXCO GERAK

akademikmalaysia@gmail.com

+60166205242

22 Mac 2020