JOHOR BARU: The meeting between Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim and the group of teachers that rejected Covid-19 vaccines will take place on Friday (Aug 27).

       On a Facebook post, Tunku Ismail said that the meeting would be held at the Sultan Ibrahim Building in Bukit Timbalan here.

       "I will meet with the Johor Education director and teachers at the Sultan Ibrahim Building, Bukit Timbalan along with the Johor Mufti and the state secretary this Friday (Aug 27).

       "This is to ensure the rakyat's health, safety and well-being are always protected," he said on Facebook on Monday (Aug 23).

       On Sunday, Tunku Ismail said in a tweet that he would be calling the state Education Department director for a meeting following news that more than 700 teachers declined to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

       “Our priority right now is to overcome this pandemic as soon as possible so that the rakyat and state can go back to what it was and continue their lives like normal,” he added.

       State education, information, heritage and culture committee chairman Mazlan Bujang said that the state Education Department would reach out to this group and help change their views to accept the vaccines soon.

       “The state government will call these 779 teachers that rejected the vaccines individually and give them information and counselling so that they would gradually understand how important it is, as schools would be reopened in stages in October,” he said during the state assembly meeting held at Bangunan Sultan Ismail in Kota Iskandar here on Sunday (Aug 22).