Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has welcomed the arrival of one (1) million doses of COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine contribution from the United States of America to Malaysia.

Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein the Malaysian Foreign Minister said ‘on behalf of the Government of Malaysia, I would like to once again express my sincere gratitude to my counterpart, Antony Blinken and the Government of the United States for the generous contribution of its COVID-19 vaccines. These vaccines will greatly intensify Malaysia’s vaccination process and make meaningful progress to the ongoing rollout of Malaysia’s National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme’.

The United States, through its Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, has also been extending various assistance and contributions to Malaysia since the start of the pandemic last year, including the in-kind contribution of medical supplies, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and ICT equipment, worth USD 250,000. Malaysia is highly appreciative of the invaluable support extended thus far by the United States and hope the close and friendly ties will be further strengthened for the mutual benefits of our two countries.

He further said, as conveyed earlier in his letter of 4 June 2021 to Secretary Blinken,’ I would also like to reiterate that Malaysia welcomes President Joe Biden’s 3 June announcement of the United States’ expression of support for temporary waiver of the Intellectual Property (IP) protection on COVID-19 vaccines. The Right Prime Minister, Tan Sri Dato’ Haji Mahiaddin bin Haji Md Yassin had also announced in his address to the Nikkei International Conference in May 2021 Malaysia’s support for the IP protection waiver for COVID-19 vaccines. In the common pursuit for equitable global access to the COVID-19 vaccines, Malaysia stands ready to establish all-round cooperation with the United States in vaccine research, development, and distribution’.