THE nation is thankful to have Health Director-General Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

He is professional, firm and straight to the point.

He is composed, articulate, calm and assuring at the same time – the list goes on.

So when he assured the nation that the Health Ministry would base its decision-making process strictly on scientifically proven facts and factual data, there was no reason for doubting him.

But what were the scientifically proven facts and factual data that the government relied on to decide to reconvene Dewan Rakyat only for one day?

Parliamentary affairs minister Takiyuddin Hassan asserted that the decision was based on the current Covid-19 crisis in the country.

But the letter issued by Dewan Rakyat secretary Riduan Rahmat notifying MPs that the Dewan Rakyat would sit for one day only when it reconvenes for its third session on May 18 was dated April 17. The letter was sighted by The Malaysian Insight.

May 18 then was one month away and the third phase of the MCO was to end on April 28, unless extended based “strictly on scientifically proven facts and factual data”.

So the government must have had the facts and factual data on April 17 to decide that Dewan Rakyat would sit for one day only.

The facts and data could not have come from the health director-general.

No, don’t besmirch the man. – April 26, 2020.

* Hafiz Hassan reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.