Dewan Rakyat sits for only half a day
Si ing adjourned at 1pm amid Covid-19 fears, a er several Dewan Negara officers test positive
KUALA LUMPUR: The first day of the Dewan Rakyat si ing yesterday was held for just half a day a er being adjourned at 1pm as a precautionary measure against the third wave of Covid19 in the country.
The motion to adjourn was tabled by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan under Standing Order 12( 1) a er question time, and was seconded by Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin.
The decision was taken a er an emergency meeting at 10.30am which was a ended by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun and party whips as well as Health directorgeneral Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, to discuss several resolutions on si ing under the new normal with the condition they do not infringe the rights of the members of Parliament.
Takiyuddin said the emergency meeting was held to enable the representatives of all MPs to discuss the priorities of the si ing, namely the efforts to curb Covid-19 and the tabling of Budget 2021.
The motion received mixed reactions from several MPs including those who demanded the rationale for the adjournment of the si ing, especially a er MPs had undergone Covid-19 screenings.
For that, Takiyuddin explained that several Dewan Negara officers had been tested positive for the disease.
“There are senators who will probably be tested positive too
There are senators who will probably be tested positive too as the officers are a ached to the senators and some of them are also related...we are advised by the MOH (Ministry of Health) that the risk is very high as we are in a closed area. Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan
as the officers are attached to the senators and some of them are also related...we are advised by the MOH (Ministry of Health) that the risk is very high as we are in a closed area.
“Although there are glass dividers in between the MP seats, how far can it help prevent the spread of the disease? MOH said the longer we are gathered in this situation, the higher the
risk will be.
“This is a worrying development. I think the MPs should seek an explanation from their chief whips who had agreed for us to make a li le adjustment not to have a si ing in the a ernoon,” he said in reply to Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin who interjected for an explanation on the motion. Sim, who was shocked and disappointed with the decision, said there was no reason for the si ing time to be shortened as preparations had been perfectly done by the MOH.
“I don’t see the rationale to cut the si ing time as Covid19 is able to spread at all time and will not stop a er 1pm. The government is supposed to bring forth more policies to help the people. I’m very disappointed by this decision,” he said.
In reply to Sim’s question on whether the half-day si ing will apply throughout this week, Takiyuddin said: “This may apply for this week only, before the tabling of the Budget (on Nov 6).
“For the si ing a er the Budget, it will be discussed with chief whips.”
The motion was approved by majority voice.