KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat sitting today will be adjourned at 1pm and resume tomorrow at 10am, following concerns over Covid-19.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan, in tabling the motion under Dewan Rakyat Standing Order 12(1), said the decision was agreed upon in an emergency meeting chaired by Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun with party whips and representatives from the Health Ministry.
He said the meeting decided to adapt new norms during sittings, with the condition any actions taken by the government would not infringe on the rights of members of parliament (MPs) to ask questions, debate, and vote.
"Meanwhile, the Parliament personnel will prepare administrative procedures that would include taking attendance (of MPs) as well as entry-and-exit registry.
"Party leaders will be given instructions from time to time," he told the Dewan Rakyat, adding that the Parliament building sits in Segambut constituency and under the jurisdiction of the Kepong health district office.
He said the meeting, which was attended by 10 MPs took into consideration the cumulative number of Covid-19 cases which stood at 32,505, 249 death cases, 97 patients in ICU, of whom 27 required ventilator support.
Takiyuddin said focus would be given to measures to address Covid-19 and the 2021 Budget to be tabled on Friday.
Teo Nie Ching (PH-Kulai) said while she had no objection to the adjournment, she requested that the sitting is extended from the scheduled 27 days.
Under Standing Order 12(1), each sitting of the House shall begin at 10am and continue until 1pm and resume at 2.30pm; and continue until 5.30pm or the earlier completion or deferment of business on the Order Paper, provided that a Minister may without notice move at any time a motion to be decided without amendment or debate to vary the time of sitting of the House.