KUALA LUMPUR: A series of health scares involving members of parliament during the current Dewan Rakyat sitting has led the Health Ministry to mull conducting health checks for all lawmakers.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said he had initiated a discussion with Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah on instituting health checks for all 222 members of the august house.
“We are weighing the matter. I have discussed this with the Health director-general as we have to take care of the health of our MPs,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat here yesterday.
His remarks came not long after Kuala Pilah MP Eddin Syazlee Shith, 45, collapsed 30 minutes into the proceedings at the lower house.
Eddin was reported to have just arrived at the Dewan Rakyat and was about to sit down when he appeared to be lethargic and slumped in his chair.
Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon called for a 10-minute recess, as paramedics attended to Eddin, who was unconscious.
Eddin, who is deputy communications and multimedia minister, was escorted by MPs and officers to the Parliament clinic.
Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii said Eddin had complained of chest pain while waiting for his turn for question time.
“I gave him first-aid treatment before he was taken out from the Dewan Rakyat and taken to the clinic.”
Eddin’s press secretary said he did not suffer a heart attack, but instead, had breathing difficulty.
“He is at the National Heart Institute and in stable condition.”
This is the second case in less than a month where an MP had fainted during the Dewan Rakyat session.
On Oct 21, Nibong Tebal MP Datuk Dr Mansor Othman collapsed in the midst of debating the 2020 Budget.
Dr Yii, who had also assisted Mansor at that time, said the MP had suffered “syncope”, a condition of insufficient blood flow to the brain, causing loss of consciousness, possibly brought about by hypotension.