SEREMBAN: Less than 1% of the 7,273 state civil servants have yet to be vaccinated against the Covid-19 virus, says Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun.

       The latest data shows that only 53 individuals have yet to be inoculated. Of the number, 17 are with the Seremban City Council.

       The non-vaccinated from other state departments and agencies range from one to three individuals.

       “I am confident that the number will come down further as the employees have until the end of this month to get their jabs,” he told reporters after chairing the state exco meeting at Wisma Negri here.

       Aminuddin said that only two weeks ago, the number totalled 64.

       “We have a small number of employees who are still very much against getting vaccinated but I hope they will change their minds soon,” he said.

       Asked if disciplinary action will be taken against them if they failed to do so, Aminuddin said this would depend on the Public Service Department (PSD).

       The PSD has said government employees who still remain unvaccinated from Nov 1 onwards without an exemption due to health reasons would be subjected to disciplinary action in accordance with the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993.

       Separately, Aminuddin said that as of Oct 12, 99.2% of all adults in the state had been fully vaccinated.

       Those between 12 and 17 years of age who have received their first jab stand at 84.4% while 6.8% have been fully vaccinated. Negri Sembilan entered Phase Four of the National Recovery Plan on Sept 24.

       To another question, Aminuddin said the state government was still hoping that the 39km Seremban-Port Dickson railway line would be rebuilt.

       The line was closed in July 2008 following the derailment of a freight train transporting diesel from a refinery in Port Dickson to Ipoh.