LAWMAKERS were stopped from going to Parliament on August 2 to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus, said Hamzah Zainudin.

“The government wanted to protect MPs as everyone knew the virus was spreading in Parliament,” the Home Minister said before he was reminded to put on his face mask in Dewan Rakyat this morning. 

He denied instructing the police to stop MPs from going to Parliament and that they were only acting in accordance with the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act and Covid-19 standard operating procedure (SOP) that disallow mass gatherings. 

“I was informed that there were 102 infections in Parliament and hence we stopped MPs from coming to Parliament. The only reason the opposition MPs were blocked was because they proceeded to demonstrate while the government backbenchers did not,” said the Larut MP.

He said that Parliament was closed off to everyone so that the premises could be sanitised.

“Anyway, we have agreed to lower the compounds for the MPs for what transpired on August 2,” said Hamzah. 

Hamzah was responding to R.S.N. Rayer (Jelutong-PH) who asked Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun why MPs were stooped from going to Parliament on August 2. He also asked who had directed the police to stop MPs.

According to Rayer, many of the opposition MPs were going to Parliament to collect their belongings as they were only told about the adjournment on August 1. 

“The speaker must ensure such incidents are not repeated as it is an offence to obstruct an MP going to Parliament under the Penal Code.”

Rayer’s request was supported by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim (Port Dickson-PH), Ngeh Koo Ham (Beruas-PH), Wong Kah Woh (Ipoh Timur-PH) and Sim Tze Tzin (Bayan Baru-PH).

The controversy began when the Yang di-Pertuan Agong issued a statement on July 29 saying that His Majesty was unaware that the Muhyiddin Yassin-led government had revoked six Emergency Ordinances despite his orders for the bills to be tabled in Parliament.

Among other things, the king said that former defacto law minister Takiyuddin Hassan (Kota Bharu-PN) had misled Dewan Rakyat on the matter. 

Following the surprise announcement, the special Parliament sitting was adjourned three times on July 29 before the last day’s sitting on August 2 was adjourned again.

Takiyuddin has yet to face any sanctions in Dewan Rakyat for “misleading” the august House. – September 14, 2021.