By CCC-ECRL

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia--China Communications Construction (ECRL) Sdn Bhd (CCC-ECRL), the Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning (EPCC) Contractor of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project, announced today that it has successfully vaccinated 100 percent of its management and staff including local subcontractors and suppliers working on the ECRL project.

The entire ECRL workforce has at least received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. CCC-ECRL aims to complete the two-dose vaccination process by the end of September. This is to ensure the personnel actively working at its 164 priority locations, including the excavation works of 10 tunnels, are fully immunized and to ensure the steadfast progress of the national megaproject. Furthermore, the initiative is essential to prevent delays in the project’s progress caused by stringent onsite SOPs, including less manpower and shorter working hours, and material delivery delays consequential to the Movement Control Order (MCO) imposed in various states.

“It is our honour to be able to participate in one of Malaysia’s mega projects by vaccinating the workforce behind the ECRL project. It is crucial for CCC-ECRL to vaccinate not only its own staff but also those of their subcontractors as well as suppliers, to ensure a safe working environment for all,” said Dr Mohd Fauzi Hassan, person-in-charge from Qualitas Health Group, the healthcare organiser of this vaccination exercise.

“The awareness to get inoculated amongst the people is high in Terengganu. We have seen a very good turn-out rate for the first dose. Together with CCC-ECRL, we are happy to help Terengganu move one step closer to achieving herd immunity with the state’s current rate of complete vaccination at 61.4 percent as of 7th September,” added Dr Mohd Fauzi.

While the vaccines for this initiative were provided by the COVID-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF), all costs involved in the vaccination process, including the set-up costs for the industry vaccination centres (PPVINs) and administrative fees for private medical general practitioners and healthcare personnel, were born by CCC-ECRL and the asset owner of the ECRL project, Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL).

The vaccination initiative was well received by local subcontractors and suppliers from the East Coast who sent their workers to participate.

“To operate during this pandemic, our overhead cost has increased significantly on purchases of COVID-19 prevention consumables and COVID-19 tests. It is also more difficult for us to get sufficient manpower for work. We are grateful that CCC-ECRL is helping with the vaccination of our workers; it is a much-needed relief for us. We have sent more than 60 workers for the vaccination at Chukai PPVIN.

This is also a good initiative to help the East Coast to achieve herd immunity,” said Muhamad Aidil Ariff Ahmat, the Site Engineer of Kinetic Builders Sdn Bhd.

Another subcontractor, Sungai Bakap Enterprise’s Blasting Engineer Nagen Thran, also commended the initiative by CCC-ECRL. “The pandemic brings us unforeseen challenges in obtaining equipment and accessories from our suppliers. 

 
This vaccination programme provided by CCC-ECRL allows my workers to get vaccinated earlier and easier. Thanks to the government, CCC-ECRL, and the related parties for having us included in getting vaccinated,” he said.

The vaccination campaign was approved by the Public-Private Partnership COVID-19 Industry Immunisation Programme (PIKAS). It was carried out at the ECRL Dungun and Chukai Base Camps in Terengganu, and CIDB Kuantan in August and September.

Meanwhile, for CCC-ECRL employees within the Klang Valley, vaccinations were carried out earlier in July and August under the Construction Industry Vaccination Program (CIVac) at CIDB Convention Centre.