JOHOR BARU: Teachers should set a good example and strive to keep their students safe by getting vaccinated, says Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar.
His Majesty said that civil servants including teachers should not doubt the importance of getting vaccinated to protect themselves, their families and their communities.
“Teachers should be setting an example to their students and protecting them instead of placing students in danger, what more with schools expected to reopen soon. My family and I have completed our vaccination doses.
“As I have said, do not be easily swayed by anti-vaxxers. Trust our certified medical professionals.
“Those rejecting vaccination without any valid reasons are just opening themselves to the risk of being infected,” His Majesty said in a statement posted on Sultan Ibrahim’s official Facebook page here yesterday.
His Majesty stressed on the importance of the vaccination and the need for it to be increased in order to achieve herd immunity within the nation’s population.
“I hope all Johoreans will be vaccinated as soon as possible so we can return to our jobs, businesses and normal lives,” the Sultan added.
Meanwhile, Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim said the meeting with the teachers would take place this Friday.
“I will meet with the state Education Department director and teachers at the Bangunan Sultan Ibrahim (in Iskandar Puteri) along with the Johor Mufti and the State Secretary this Friday.
“This is to ensure the rakyat’s health, safety and well-being are always protected. Insya’Allah,” he said on Facebook yesterday.
When contacted, state Education Department deputy director Shahilon Abd Halim, who is also the acting director, declined to comment on the matter.
On Sunday, Tunku Ismail said in a tweet that he would be calling the state Education Department director for a meeting with the nearly 800 teachers who had rejected the vaccination for Covid-19.
Tunku Ismail also said he would be meeting the group of teachers soon.
During the current state assembly meeting, Johor education, information, heritage and culture committee chairman Mazlan Bujang said the state Education Department would reach out to this group soon to help change their views about the vaccination initiative.
“The state government will call these 779 teachers who have rejected the vaccines individually and give them information and counselling so that they will gradually understand how important vaccination is since schools will reopen by phases in October,” Mazlan said.