Court of Appeal dismisses appeals by teachers and university staff against the government’s compulsory Covid-19 vaccination circular, citing public health necessity.
PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal has dismissed appeals by five school teachers and 19 Universiti Malaya staff who challenged a government circular requiring compulsory Covid-19 vaccination.
A three-member bench unanimously found no merit in the appeals.
Justice Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid said the appellants’ claims of irrationality or disproportionality did not hold water.
He stated the government’s measures were intended to curb the spread of Covid-19 and safeguard public health.
The court recognised the pandemic as a global health crisis requiring coordinated efforts, including vaccination.
Justice Ahmad Kamal noted the health ministry recorded over 2,000 daily cases and more than 19,000 deaths in 2021.
The court awarded the government and the UM registrar RM15,000 each in costs.
The five teachers from Terengganu, Kelantan, Melaka and Selangor filed their judicial review application in October 2021.
The 19 UM staff members filed a similar application two days later.
They had sought to quash the decision to implement vaccination for public servants.
They also sought a declaration affirming their freedom to choose whether to be vaccinated.
The High Court dismissed their judicial review application in December 2023, prompting the appeal.
Senior federal counsel Liew Horng Bin and Siti Norashikin Hassanor appeared for the government.
Lawyers Muhammad Amin Anuar and Adrian Yeow represented the appellants.
Lawyer Raja Eileen Soraya Raja Aman represented the UM registrar.
