We only advise on Covid-19, says DG on one-day parliament sitting

CORONAVIRUS | The Health Ministry only advised the government on the situation of the Covid-19 outbreak in Malaysia, said its director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

Other matters, he added, were beyond the ministry's scope.

He was responding to a question on whether the Health Ministry had advised the government for the Parliament session on May 18 to only sit for a day.

“With regard to the (question about) parliament, we advise based on the data of Covid-19. For example, if (the number of cases) is increasing or decreasing. We advise about the situation, the progress of the Covid-19 transmission.

"Other than that, it is beyond the ministry,” he told a press conference in Putrajaya this evening.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Takiyuddin Hassan had on April 25 said the one-day sitting decision had taken into consideration the current situation, particularly the need to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.

Subsequently, DAP's Iskandar Puteri MP Lim Kit Siang questioned if Takiyuddin's position was based on the Health Ministry's advice and asked that the latter clarify.

The opposition has been critical of the one-day sitting, arguing that it would render parliament's role of check and balance ineffective.

Meanwhile, responding to questions on the measures MOH would take to screen parliamentarians before they enter the Dewan Rakyat on May 18, Noor Hisham said there will be a thermal scanner placed at the premises to check body temperature.

"Yes, of course in parliament we are looking into it. So it is also like any other institutions, for example when you come to MOH, we ensure there will be thermal-scan screening. All that will be in place.

"That is part of the new normal now. Whether you go to the parliament, a restaurant or any institution, there will be temperature screening and also social distancing and maintaining good personal hygiene.

"That's what we encourage and obviously, no more handshakes. So that is the new normal we have to practice not only for parliament sessions but for everyone in this country," he said.

Noor Hisham, however, did not say anything about having all MPs undergo Covid-19 tests prior to the Dewan Rakyat sitting.

Earlier today, a Pakatan Harapan MP told Malaysiakini that all parliamentarians may be subjected to the test two days before Dewan Rakyat convenes. - Mkini