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Kota Kinabalu: With the deadline for all teachers to be vaccinated being today (Nov. 1), some 326 out of the 42,440 teachers in Sabah have yet to be fully vaccinated and face the prospect of disciplinary action, said Deputy Education Minister II Datuk Mohamad Alamin.

The Kimanis MP urged the teachers concerned to give their cooperation and get vaccinated as soon as possible.

“We appeal to those still not vaccinated to please come forward (and get vaccinated).  As urged by the Public Service Department (JPA), they have to do it by Nov. 1 failing which disciplinary action may be taken against them,” he told Daily Express. Mohamad was previously reported as saying that some unvaccinated teachers in Sabah simply refused while some face medical conditions. He said those unable to get vaccinated due to health conditions would be exempted from the penalty.

Senior Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin announced in September that unvaccinated teachers would be banned from conducting face-to-face teaching and assigned to other roles.

On Sept. 30, JPA made it mandatory for all public servants to get vaccinated or face disciplinary action in accordance with the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993, ahead of sectors reopening last October. JPA also announced at the time that 1.6 per cent of civil servants in Malaysia had yet to register for the vaccine and were given a grace period until Nov 1 to do so. Schools in Sabah were reopened for face-to-face teaching and learning early October. Under Phase Three of the National Recovery Plan (NRP), schools are open for Form Six (semester two) students, International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) students, special needs students and Vocational Colleges.

Higher learning institutions are also open for face-to-face learning, but only for fully vaccinated students.