THE Dewan Rakyat sitting today will end at 1pm as a precaution against spreading Covid-19, after staff in the Parliament building tested positive for Covid-19.

“Some Parliament staff have tested positive and some senators may also have contracted it, because one of the officers is attached to a lawmaker,” said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law) Takiyuddin Hassan today, while tabling a motion to adjourn the sitting.

He said that shortening working hours was a preliminary measure and it will be decided upon each day, after tabling the motion under Parliament Standing Orders 12(1).

The daily sitting usually begins at 10am, before stopping for lunch at 1pm and resuming at 2.30pm.

Debating usually ends at 5.30pm, but can run on if more time is needed.

Takiyuddin, the MP for Kota Baru, said the decision was made after a meeting with all the party whips this morning and chaired by Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun.

“Among those who attended were Anthony Loke (Seremban-PH), Johari Abdul (Sg Petani-PH), Hasanuddin Mohd Yunus (Ulu Langat-PH) and Rozman Isli (Labuan-Warisan).

He said those who attended the meeting also agreed that any extra Covid-19 measures to be taken in light of the recent infections will not affect MPs’ right to debate, propose motions or vote.

He said the meetings had to be shortened for now because the Ministry of Health had classified the Parliament building a “high risk” area.

“The ministry said that Parliament is still a closed environment and, although there are partitions, it’s unclear if it can prevent infections.

“The longer we sit together, the higher the risks. As it is, Parliament is sanitised each morning by hazmat and ‘Stop’ from 7am-9am,” he said, referring to special fire department teams tasked with disinfecting the building.

However, Takiyuddin said the precautions would be a temporary measure until the ministry developed more permanent standard operating procedures.

“This motion to shorten the session is only for today. We are yet to decide whether to shorten the sittings every day,” he said after Lim Guan Eng (Bagan-PH) asked if the motion will be for all 47 days of the current session. Parliament is scheduled to meet from tomorrow until December 15.

“For now, we will try to shorten it for this week,” said Takiyuddin.

Teo Nie Chieng (Kulai-PH) proposed for Parliament to extend this session for another week, while M. Kulasegaran (Ipoh Barat-PH) asked the government to consider virtual sittings instead. – November 2, 2020.