Malaysia SEA Games contingent gets vaccinated for polio

The athletes during the SEA Games flag handing ceremony to the Malaysia contingent at Tenera Hotel in Bangi yesterday. IZZRAFIQ ALIAS / The Star. November 21, 2019.

KUALA LUMPUR—All SEA Games-bound Malaysia athletes and officials comprising a total of 1,114 have been ordered to be vaccinated for polio.

The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) deputy president Datuk Seri Azim Zabidi said they received a letter from the Philippines SEA Games Organising Committee (Phisgoc) stating that there is an outbreak of polio in their country.

“We have been advised that the Malaysian contingent need to get the vaccination. The athletes and officials were supposed to get it yesterday (Tuesday) but they will only get it done today,”  said Azim. “They must get vaccinated before leaving for the Games.”

It is learned that 90% of the Malaysian athletes have already received their measles injections.

A total of 774 Malaysian athletes – 448 men and 326 women – will feature in the 30th SEA Games in the Philippines from Nov 30-Dec 11. The number of officials for the Games is 340 (275 men and 65 women).

Meanwhile, all 1,114 athletes and officials will be sporting Bata shoes with tiger stripes for the Games.

Ajay Ramachandran, country manager of Bata Primavera Sdn Bhd, said they are sponsoring 1,200 pairs of sports shoes for the Malaysian contingent at a cost of RM150,000.