CORONAVIRUS | The seats for federal lawmakers in the Dewan Rakyat would be rearranged to ensure that social distancing is observed during the sitting on May 18.
"This means some MPs will have to sit in the space originally allocated for ministers' assistants and visitors,” Deputy Speaker Mohd Rashid Hasnon was quoted as saying by China Press.
According to him, microphones would be installed in the visitors' gallery.
Since there would be no debates for the one-day sitting, Mohd Rashid said only a limited number of government officials would be allowed to attend.
"We have issued letters to all 222 MPs. The meeting will be simplified," he added.
The deputy speaker also reminded all MPs to undergo health screening 14 days before the meeting.
Other safeguards to be implemented include reducing the number of entry and exit points as well as conducting temperature checks.
Mohd Rashid said a new Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairperson would be appointed following incumbent Dr Noraini Ahmad's appointment as a cabinet minister.
The Lower House would be sitting for the first time since the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government.
The session was scheduled for March 9, where Harapan was expected to table a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, but was postponed for two months due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
On April 14, PKR president Anwar Ibrahim assured that the issue of a no-confidence vote would not arise if a special session is convened to debate the country’s ongoing Covid-19 measures.
He said it is more important to focus on the economic and social impact of the pandemic instead of debating political matters.
However, opposition MPs have criticised the decision to hold a one-day session without debates.
Based on the letter he received, DAP veteran and Iskandar Puteri MP Lim Kit Siang said there would be no “oral question sessions, written questions, motions and special chambers.”
He argued this would reduce the role of parliament to provide a check and balance of the government in their management to contain the outbreak.
Meanwhile, the upcoming session would also witness MPs from Bersatu and its top two leaders, Muhyiddin, who is president, and Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is chairperson, on opposite sides of the political divide. - Mkini
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