ALL MPs must be tested for Covid-19 before they are allowed to attend the first parliamentary sitting of the year on May 18.

“Following the movement-control order, Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusoff has agreed for all MPs to undergo Covid-19 tests on May 14 and 15 at Parliament house,” said Dewan Rakyat Secretary Riduan Rahmat in a letter to lawmakers that was seen by The Malaysian Insight.

“MPs will not be allowed to attend Parliament if they don’t get tested.”

The letter, dated April 27, said MPs are “encouraged” to get tested in the Parliament building, but have the option to do so elsewhere.

“If you choose to undergo the test at hospitals or government clinics, please get a confirmation letter from the doctor.

“The test must be done two to three days before the official opening of the first session of the 14th Parliament meeting.”

Riduan said Parliament will not pay for tests conducted at private hospitals and clinics.

Kluang MP Wong Su Qi, who got tested on March 17, said she received Parliament’s notification this morning.

“I hope the process will be smooth and fast as there are 222 MPs.”

She was among a batch of lawmakers who underwent screening after they came into close contact with coronavirus patients.

Among the MPs are Bersatu’s Mohd Redzuan Yusof and Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Amanah’s Dr Hatta Ramli, and DAP’s Dr Kelvin Yii and Andrew Wong.

Dr Yii and Wong, as well as Kota Samarahan MP Rubiah Wang, tested positive this and last month, and were hospitalised for several weeks.

The May 18 sitting will be a one-day affair to hear the royal address and for MPs to approve government spending to mitigate the pandemic’s impact on the economy.

The meet was originally scheduled for March 9, before Pakatan Harapan was ousted from Putrajaya through defections and plotting by former PKR leaders, a Bersatu faction under Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, Umno and PAS.

PH lawmakers have pressed Muhyiddin to hold a longer sitting, and accused him of wanting to avoid a vote of no confidence. – April 28, 2020.