The state Covid-19 Action Task Force (CITF) vaccinated workers in the Pahang tourism sector only after the first dose of immunisation for frontliners in the first phase priority group was completed, according to Khairy Jamaluddin.

The state CITF vaccinated workers in the tourism sector in Pahang, including 56 hotels in Kuantan, Genting Highlands, Jerantut, Raub, Mentakab, Bentong, Bukit Tinggi, and Bukit Fraser, according to the Science, Technology, and Innovation Minister.

“This decision was made after Pahang completed the first dose of vaccinations for all recipients listed in the first phase priority group.

“The federal-level CITF only found out about the state's decision once they began vaccinating that group," he said in a statement issued Wednesday.

In response to social media allegations, Khairy stated that it was false that he, as minister, ordered Genting Group employees to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

He stated that the vaccination process was carried out in accordance with the Special Committee for Ensuring Access to Covid-19 Vaccine Supply's SOPs (JKJAV).

“I deny issuing any such orders. As mentioned before, the first group of vaccine recipients in the first phase of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme was done according to SOPs issued by JKJAV on March 1, ” he said.

Following the incident, Khairy said he wrote a letter to the Pahang state government on April 12 regarding the decision to vaccinate those in the tourism sector.

“Until any other groups are listed, the earlier decision on the priority list (frontliners) stands, ” he added.