PETALING JAYA: Lawmakers are required to get tested for Covid-19 before they will be allowed to attend the upcoming one-day Parliament sitting on May 18.
“Following the implementation of the movement control order (MCO) across the country and as part of measures to curb the spread of Covid-19, (the) Dewan Rakyat Speaker has agreed that all MPs must get be tested for Covid-19 in Parliament from May 14 to 15,” said Dewan Rakyat secretary Riduan Rahmat in a letter to MPs dated April 27.
Parliament was to have met on March 9, but this was postponed to May 18, when Perikatan Nasional took over administration following the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government.
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah will deliver the Royal Address when opening Parliament at 10am on May 18.
Riduan also urged MPs to get tested in Parliament but for those who are unable to do so, they can choose to do it at the nearest government hospitals or clinics.
“Yang Berhormat must also get the confirmation letter from doctors and the test must be done within two to three days before the opening of the first meeting of the third session of the 14th Parliament.
“If the test is conducted in any private hospitals or clinics, the Parliament will not pay for it,” he added, noting if the MPs tested positive, they will also not be allowed to attend the opening.
The Dewan Rakyat will not sit from May 26 to May 28 due to Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
There will also be a short break on June 1 and 2 due to Hari Gawai.
The Dewan Rakyat will also not have a sitting on June 8 as it falls on the King’s birthday.
The second meeting of the Dewan Rakyat will be from July 27 to Aug 27. During that meeting, the 12th Malaysia Plan will be tabled on Aug 6, and the Dewan Rakyat will not sit on July 30, Aug 19 and 20 to observe Hari Raya Qurban and Awal Muharam respectively.
The third and final meeting of the year will begin on Sept 28 to Nov 26.
This is often the longest meeting for every session as the country’s budget will be tabled, debated and passed during this time.
Budget 2021 will be tabled by the Finance Minister on Friday, Oct 2 this year.
The Dewan Rakyat will also take a one-day break on Oct 29 due to Maulidul Rasul. – The Star