Health DG to address Parliamentary Select Committee today

 

The first Parliamentary Select Committee meeting since the start of the emergency kicks off today with a meeting by the Health, Science and Innovation Committee.

This committee is slated to convene for one day to hear from Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah and senior officers from the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Mosti), which oversees the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP)

Speaking to Malaysiakini, committee chairperson and Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii said the committee will receive a briefing from Noor Hisham and the committee will probe him on some decisions of the authorities.

The Mosti officers will be quizzed on the progress of the NIP.

“We will commend good practices. This helps build public confidence. We may also make recommendations if there are gaps which need to be addressed,” Yii said in explaining the committee’s check and balance role.

The committee’s job, he said, was to provide parliamentary oversight and hold the government accountable. The committee will also be seeking explanations on plans and strategies for the near future and the long-term.

Among others, Yii said the committee will ask the authorities what measures will follow the completion of the NIP.

This meeting will be conducted in-person at Parliament House. Yii said these meetings cannot be held online or anywhere else, unless the Standing Orders are amended.

Bipartisan select committees are powerful entities which can summon cabinet ministers and government officials for hearings. The reports from these sessions are then tabled in Parliament.

All committee activities were suspended since January due to the Jan 11 proclamation of emergency, which expires on Aug 1.

Yii said the Dewan Rakyat Speaker’s Office did not object to the meeting. - Mkini