JOHOR BARU: Local bus operators are doing their part in battling the pandemic by allowing their buses to be converted into mobile vaccination centres.

       Johor Muafakat Bus Operators and Drivers’ Association chairman R. Thiagarajan said they recently deployed two buses to Pahang for the mobile vaccination programme there.

       He said Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ismail Abd Muttalib had contacted them to provide buses for the Community Vaccine Mobilisation (Movak) outreach programme in Maran.

       “We sent a single and a double-decker express bus to Kampung Serengkam and Kampung Orang Asli Merbau there for the programme,” he said yesterday.

       Thiagarajan noted the buses had to have their seats removed to accommodate the temporary vaccination stations.

       He noted the modification to the buses was carried out in accordance with Health Ministry requirements.

       “For single deck buses, we were able to place five vaccination stations and eight for double-decker buses. The double-decker bus is by far more popular as it is disabled friendly,” he said.

       Thiagarajan said up to 500 people can get vaccinated within eight hours on these buses.

       “In the Maran programme, we are able to vaccinate 350 Orang Asli in less than six hours,” he said.

       He added the association was contacted by the Selangor government which expressed interest in getting buses for their mobile vaccination drive.

       Thiagarajan said they were in the midst of preparing up to four buses for the programme in Selangor.