Malaysia’s Islamic authorities allow use of Covid vaccine, make it mandatory for some

Malaysia is struggling to stem a fresh wave of cases that emerged in September. Daily cases hit a record 2,234 on 10 December.

Shoppers use hand sanitizer as a vendor checks a customer's temperature outside a store in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Bloomberg

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia’s religious authorities have decided that the Covid-19 vaccine is allowed and is mandatory for some groups.

This view has been relayed to the Council of Rulers, Religious Affairs Minister Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri said in a statement on Wednesday, amid concern among local Muslims that the shots could contain substances forbidden by Islam.

The use of vaccines to protect Muslims from fatal diseases was not unusual in Islamic law, the minister said. He cited six instances between 1988 and 2013 when they were given to prevent infections from Hepatitis B to Meningitis Menveo.

The Special Muzakarah Committee of the National Council for Malaysian Islamic Affairs, which met on Dec. 3, is of the opinion that the Covid vaccine must be given to groups identified by the government, Zulkifli said.

“As such, I urge all Malaysians, especially Muslims, to abide by and give full trust to the government to manage the Covid-19 pandemic through the use of vaccines,” he said.

Malaysia is struggling to stem a fresh wave of cases that emerged in September. Daily cases hit a record 2,234 on Dec. 10, with the outbreak spreading to facilities of companies including Top Glove Corp. and Karex Bhd., the world’s biggest maker of condoms. The nation added 1,348 new infections on Wednesday.- Bloomberg