KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 — The Health Ministry will consult the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) over a possible fatwa or religious edict to make it compulsory for Muslim parents to vaccinate their children.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said that after discussing with Jakim, the ministry will then approach the Muzakarah National Fatwa Committee Council in Islamic Affairs, informally called the National Fatwa Council, on the matter.
Two children died of the highly-contagious diphtheria virus recently due to being unvaccinated.
“I will discuss with Jakim whether there is a need for us to issue a fatwa to make it compulsory for parents to immunise their children.
“We will then see how we can get the National Fatwa Council on the matter,” he was quoted as saying by the New Sunday Times.
He also backed the idea mooted by the Education Ministry yesterday to deny unvaccinated students enrolment into public schools due to the severity of the issue.
“I support the move because it is becoming more serious,” he said.
According to news reports, a seven-year-old girl died last Saturday in Malacca from diphtheria, a potentially fatal and highly contagious bacterial infection that can be prevented by immunisation, while a two-year-old boy died from the disease yesterday in Kedah. Both of them reportedly had not received complete vaccination against diphtheria.
News of the two deaths hit headlines after Ammar Wan Harun, who had starred in the second season of the Imam Muda show, reportedly posted on his Facebook page “Imam Muda Ammar” that too much fuss was being made over the deaths of children who were not vaccinated.
His post drew condemnation, including from Health director-general Datuk Noor Hisham Abdullah who criticised Ammar for his remarks, calling them “shameful” and “irresponsible.”
Perlis Mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin has since said, however, that Muslims who refuse vaccinations were going against the teachings of Islam as the religion “prohibits its followers from knowingly putting themselves in danger.”
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim has also urged parents to vaccinate their children but said that she understood Muslim parents’ reluctance due to the vaccine being non-halal.
