KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The first day of Dewan Rakyat sitting today was held for half day when it was adjourned at 1 pm as a precautionary measure following the spread of COVID-19 third wave in the country.
The adjournment motion was tabled by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan under Standing Order 12(1) after question time and was seconded by Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin.
The decision was taken after an emergency meeting at 10.30 am which was attended by Dewan Rakyat Speaker, Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun and party whips as well as Health director-general to discuss several resolutions on sitting 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 Members of Parliament (MPs) to discuss the priorities of the sitting, 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 sitting, especially after MPs 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 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 little adjustment not to have a sitting in the afternoon,” 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 sitting time to be shortened as preparations had been perfectly done by the MOH.
“I don’t see the rationale to cut the sitting time as COVID-19 is able to spread at all time and will not stop after 1 pm. 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 sitting 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 sitting after the Budget, it will be discussed with chief whips.”
The motion was approved by majority voice.