ELECTED representatives are only encouraged to spend less than 10 minutes in their meetings with their constituents during the ongoing movement-control order (MCO) period, a government guideline revealed.

They are also told that their meetings can only have three people, including themselves, and to always maintain social distancing and good hygienic practice.

Apart from that, all members of Parliament and state assemblymen are also prohibited from uploading images of such meetings on social media to avoid public restlessness.

They are also discouraged from holding press conferences and media interviews during these meetings, said the guideline.

Several members of Parliament and state reps contacted by The Malaysian Insight confirmed receiving the guideline.

The guideline was attached in a letter from the National Security Council (NSC) director-general Mohd Rabin Basir to Parliament chief administrator Kamis Samin.

In the letter dated April 21, Rabin told Kamis to disperse the guideline to MPs who have been granted permission to travel to their respective constituencies during the MCO.

He said the MPs must adhere to the guideline during their visits to their constituencies under the MCO.

According to the guideline, the MPs and state reps can visit their constituencies to check on their constituents and conduct programmes to give aid. However, the meeting or programme must be confined to just the elected reps and two other individuals.

The length of the meeting or programme must also be less than an hour, but they are encouraged to end it within 10 minutes.

Gatherings or events of any form including serving food either in an open space or behind closed-doors are prohibited.

Physical contact such as handshakes and touching are also not allowed.

Elected reps are also advised to not give speeches, hold media briefings or wear personal protective equipment at all places.

They are also told to strictly adhere to all health guidelines issued by the Health Ministry and comply with all MCO directives.

In recent weeks, many MPs and state assemblymen were seen doing their rounds in their constituencies, meeting and giving away aid to their voters.

Many of them have also posted photos and videos of such events on social media.

These activities are expected to increase during the Ramadan month.

Earlier, some ministers have also courted controversy by wearing PPEs during events. – April 24, 2020.