PARLIAMENT can reconvene under Phase 3 of the government’s national recovery plan, which is around September or October, said Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

“I give my commitment that Parliament will reopen in this phase under tight standard operating procedure (SOP),” the prime minister said in his national address today.

Muhyiddin said he has always believed that Parliament should function again at the right time.

“…when Covid-19 cases are under control and when we have nearly reached herd immunity,” said Muhyiddin.

“I will support the principle of a democratic Parliament and constitutional monarchy. As such, don’t allow any parties to raise concerns on this while the government is combating the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.

Earlier today, Muhyiddin met Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, after the King had met Ariffin Zakaria, who heads the special independent emergency committee.

The committee will advise the king on when to end the state of emergency.

Parliament has not held any meetings since last year, following the government’s decision to declare a state of emergency on January 11 when the average number of new infections were around 2,000.

Muhyiddin said the government will move to Phase 3:

• when the average number of new Covid-19 infections is reduced to 2,000 per day
• when the healthcare system is comfortable after the usage of intensive care unit (ICU) beds has come down
• when 40% of the population has received two doses of vaccines.

“The earliest we can achieve these numbers is estimated to be at the end of August,” he said.

Under Phase 3, all economic sectors (other than those on the high-risk list) will be reopened at 80% capacity, said Muhyiddin.

He said social activities including education and sports will also be reopened in phases.

At the special address today, Muhyiddin announced the national recovery plan, containing four phases.

Each recovery phase is based on three indicators: number of new infections per day, ability of the public healthcare system to handle Covid-19 patients and the percentage of population vaccinated. – June 15, 2021.