Several MPs quarantined ahead of final budget votes, exemptions possible

 

Several lawmakers have been placed under home quarantine ahead of the final week of voting on Budget 2021 in the Dewan Rakyat.

At least two government MPs are among those quarantined, and there might also be opposition lawmakers affected.

The two government MPs affected are Health Minister Dr Adham Baba (BN-Tenggara) and Human Resources Minister M Saravanan (BN-Tapah), both of whom had close contact with Covid-19 patients.

Human Resources Minister M Saravanan

Meanwhile, Kangar MP Noor Amin Ahmad tweeted that opposition MPs are also under quarantine.

However, when contacted, Noor Amin said he was not sure how many opposition MPs were under quarantine.

There are still five budgets left to be debated and voted on at the committee stage, with the final third reading expected on Wednesday.

Thus far, there were eight bloc votes during the committee stage, with the closest fight being for the International Trade and Industry Ministry, which passed 110-104.

There is a possibility that some quarantined MPs may be allowed to attend Parliament next week.

"The (speaker) is waiting for the (Health Ministry) director-general's (Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah) decision on whether the (quarantined) MPs will be allowed to attend and vote or not," Noor Amin tweeted.

A letter from the Dewan Rakyat secretary to the MPs that Malaysiakini sighted states that MPs can write to the Health director-general to ask for permission to attend Parliament.

Previously, Noor Hisham had stated that those who have tested negative for Covid-19 but are undergoing quarantine can apply to shorten the quarantine period if they have good reasons.

"If the test is negative, or they have no symptoms and the risk assessments find no risk, then we will consider it," he had said in November.

Exemption applications are evaluated by committee, and the power to exempt is in line with the Section 15(1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act.

During the Sabah state election, those under home quarantine were also allowed to vote at special voting areas, under the watch of health officers.

 - Mkini