Parliament must probe Kitingan’s shortened quarantine, says MP

Chan Kok Leong Diyana Ibrahim Chan Kok Leong, Diyana Ibrahim Updated 5 years ago · Published on 24 Nov 2020 3:01PM · 3 Comments

Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin has today submitted a motion to refer Keningau MP Jeffrey Kitingan to Parliament’s Rights and Privileges committee after breaking a Parliament instruction to quarantine for 14 days upon coming to the Peninsula from Sabah. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, November 24, 2020.

KOTA Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin has submitted a motion to refer Tourism, Arts and Culture Deputy Minister Jeffrey Kitingan to Parliament’s Rights and Privileges committee.

The motion to refer the Keningau MP was sent to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizah Harun today after the Sabah lawmaker, who appeared in the Dewan today, had broken a Parliament instruction to undergo 14 days of quarantine upon coming to the peninsula from Sabah.

On October 9, Parliament Secretary Nizam Mydin Bacha Mydin told Sabah MPs that they had to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival from Sabah before they could attend Dewan Rakyat sessions.

“Keningau had attended Dewan Rakyat on November 24 although he had appeared at the Sabah state assembly on November 12, 12 days earlier,” wrote Chan.

“This action (of attending Dewan Rakyat) has contravened the Dewan Rakyat Secretary’s instruction on October 9 that required all Sabah MPs to undergo a 14-day quarantine upon entering Peninsular Malaysia.

“Parliament should look into this matter seriously as he has attended Dewan Rakyat without going through the 14-day quarantine and has exposed all MPs to Covid-19,” said the DAP Sabah secretary.

A copy of Chan’s letter was sent to The Malaysian Insight. 

Earlier today, Kitingan, who is also the Sabah Deputy Chief Minister 2, appeared in Dewan Rakyat at noon, sparking protests from other MPs.

The STAR president, however, left the hall 10 minutes later without addressing the issue after Deputy Speaker Azalina Othman Said promised to look into the matter.

Later, Azhar told Dewan Rakyat that Kitingan had been given a release letter after undergoing a quarantine from November 12 to 23. – November 24, 2020.

Sign up or sign in here to comment.

Comments

  • Was the Doctor who signed the release letter negligent and remiss in the performance of his/her duty by not following the SOPs? Can anyone who should be quarantined as per SOP be exempted from doing so with just the letter of a Doctor? So this is a loophole for everyone to exploit? What does the medical body responsible for the conduct of all doctors in Malaysia have to say about this? Will any action be taken?

    Posted 5 years ago by Yoon Kok · Reply

  • Why barking at the wrong tree for all you know JK made arrangement with higher up's and was directed to pantai clinic or he throw his antic to get his release after all there's one law for gomen law enforcement and another for us the people on the streets.

    Posted 5 years ago by Teruna Kelana · Reply

  • A government desperate to stay in power cannot follow its own rules. Rules, ethics, integrity all not important to those struggling to stay alive. The rest of the Rakyat are just pawns in their books.

    Posted 5 years ago by Loyal Malaysian · Reply