The Malaysian Insight

THE three MPs who are under home quarantine but attended Dewan Rakyat yesterday had permission from the Health Ministry, speaker Azhar Azizan Harun said today.

He said the ministry’s approval was similar to the power public health authorities have to grant exemptions to persons under surveillance (PUS) for specific reasons.

“I understand that this exemption is not new, instead it is the same exemption given to PUS to attend funerals and to go to the emergency room.

“(These) exceptions are not new. And I allowed the wearing of PPE (personal protective equipment) in the Dewan Rakyat in accordance with meeting rules.”

Azhar said this in the Dewan Rakyat today in response to opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim (Port Dickson-PH), who asked for clarity on Covid-19 regulations in Parliament after yesterday’s uproar in the chambers over the attendance of three MPs under home quarantine.  

The three MPs were Health Minister Dr Adham Baba (Tenggara-BN), Human Resources Minister M. Saravanan (Tapah-BN) and P. Prabakaran (Batu-PH).

“I apologise for not giving an explanation yesterday. (The three MPs who) are subjected to home quarantine orders wrote to the director-general of health (Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah) to attend (Parliament). 

“In his letter dated December 14, he (Dr Noor Hisham) approved their application for time off to attend voting in the Dewan Rakyat. This permission is given in writing,” Azhar said.

Lim Guan Eng (Bagan-PH) then asked about seating for the three MPs, and to clarify that they are only allowed to vote but not participate in the debate, to which Azhar agreed. 

“I fixed their seats in the public gallery. They can vote from that place. 

“Lembah Pantai (Fahmi Fadzil) also asked about identification procedures earlier. The MPs’ attendance will be recorded by an official, who will check their identities before they vote.”

Azhar added that Adham’s quarantine period has ended after taking into account the shortened quarantine period of 10 days. 

As for Prabakaran, his last day of quarantine is today while Saravanan’s is on Thursday.

The house is expected to cast the final vote (third stage) on Budget 2021 after completed debates for all ministries’ allocations at the committee stage. – December 15, 2020.