JOHOR BARU: There should not be any problem if a vaccine recipient wants to record a vaccination process, provided that he or she does not disrupt frontliners' duties and the traffic flow at the PPV.

       "We want to encourage as many people as possible to get vaccinated. If they want to take a video, it should be allowed," said Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng.

       The Tanjung Piai MP was commenting on an incident where a 24-year-old man was told not to record his vaccination process by a medical worker, who said that this was because former National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin had resigned.

       It was learnt that the incident took place earlier this week at a vaccination centre (PPV) in Pontian, which is in the Tanjung Piai constituency.

       The man, an engineer who only wanted to be known as Raff Muhd, said he was at the PPV for his first vaccine dose at around 11am on Aug 25.

       "Initially, I did not plan to record the vaccination process but the nurse tending to me was kind and friendly, so I asked her permission to record it.

       "I only started recording after she gave her permission and we were happily chatting while she administered the injection.

       "Suddenly, another medical worker came in and said that recording was not allowed 'because KJ has resigned', and she covered my device with her hand.

       "I was so shocked and confused at that point that I did not know how to react.

       "I just proceeded to the next station for observation after my injection," he told The Star.

       He posted the video clip on Twitter on Thursday (Aug 26), which went viral with at least 579,000 views as of noon on Friday (Aug 27).

       In the eight-second clip, the medical worker can be heard saying in Bahasa Malaysia: "You cannot record this, KJ has stepped down and Health Ministry procedures do not allow it," before covering the phone with her hand.

       Raff said that he respected frontliners who are doing their best for the people, but this was disrespectful towards him.

       He also hoped that the nurse who tended to him would not get into trouble for allowing him to record the process.

       "I was excited to finally receive the vaccine but the incident left a bad taste in my mouth," he said.

       Wee said the words used by the worker were uncalled for, as the resignation of a minister should not change the way frontliners carry out their duties.

       Khairy had said on July 23 that the public could film their vaccination process.

       "If this was not allowed before, I am now giving permission, and I have asked for permission from the Health Minister to allow the public to video their vaccination process.

       "Go ahead and film yourself, take a video of your vaccination so that you have hard proof and we also have hard proof of you receiving a proper dose of the vaccine," he said then.

       There has been no notice that this policy was rescinded.

       Khairy, who was previously the science, technology and innovation minister, along with other Cabinet ministers vacated their positions following the resignation of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as the eighth prime minister.

       In Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob's Cabinet announcement on Friday, (Aug 27), Khairy was named as the new Health Minister.

       Shortly after the announcement, Khairy took to Twitter and posted “Assalamualaikum.” in a quote tweet that showed a video of the incident. His tweet, demonstrating acknowledgement of the event, has since gone viral.

       Assalamualaikum. https://t.co/O9Wk0ke01h

       — Khairy Jamaluddin