SEVERAL media organisations, mostly government-owned or linked, will be allowed to cover parliamentary proceedings on site when the Dewan Rakyat convenes from November 2 to December 23.

A notice from Parliament’s corporate communications unit today said that the decision was made in view of the Covid-19 pandemic and was in accordance with standard operating procedure (SOP) set by the National Security Council and Health Ministry.

“Only the following media agencies are allowed to provide coverage of the 3rd Meeting of the 3rd Term of the 14th Parliament, as well as the tabling of Budget 2020,” the notice said, and listed the 15 news agencies permitted.

They are RTM, Bernama, TV Al-Hijrah, TV3, New Straits Times, Berita Harian, Astro Awani, Utusan Malaysia, Sinar Harian, The Star, The Sun, Sin Chew Daily, Nanyang Siang Pau, Malaysia Nanban and Channel News Asia.

The budget for 2021, the first by the Perikatan Nasional government, which took power in March, will be tabled on Novemger 6 at 4pm.

Each of the permitted news agencies will only be allowed to send a journalist and a photographer or videographer, except for state-owned outlets, RTM and Bernama.

All personnel are required to take a Covid-19 test three days before proceedings begin and present their negative results on the first day of proceedings. – October 16, 2020.