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KUALA LUMPUR: Health Minister Datuk Seri, Dr. Adham Baba, has completed his Household Watch Order (HSO) and is allowed to return to the Dewan Rakyat, says Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun.
Azhar, the spokesman for Dewan Rakyat, said this is after the Health Ministry reduced the quarantine period from 14 to 10 days.
“Considering the shortened period for the HSO, I was informed that YB Tenggara (Dr. Adham) completed his HSO yesterday (December 14) and can return to the Dewan today (December 15),” Azhar said while presiding over the proceedings.
On December 10, Dr. Adham announced that he was in home quarantine after being exposed to a Covid-19 positive individual on December 5.
Meanwhile, the Spokesperson also informed the House that the final days of quarantine for two other MPs, Datuk Seri M. Saravanan (BN-Tapah) and P. Prabakaran (PH-Batu), will also soon end.
Azhar said the Prabakaran HSO ends today (December 15) and he can return to Dewan tomorrow (December 16), while the Saravanan quarantine period ends on Thursday (December 17).
Earlier, opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had asked for an explanation on Covid-19’s standard operating procedure (SOP) which saw a “new normal” for the House as the three HSO MPs appeared fully dressed in gear. personal protection (PPE) suits to participate in the voting process.
Dr. Adham, Saravanan and Prabakaran were seen sitting on the highest floor of the Chamber, away from other MPs during the vote on Monday (December 15).
They were dressed in all-white aprons, along with blue shower caps and visors.
Anwar had asked for evidence on the order to allow the three deputies to participate in the voting process. He also asked why the deputies were made to sit on the highest floor of the Chamber.
To this, Azhar said that the director general of Health had sent a letter to the three legislators dated December 14 to allow them time off to be present during the voting process this week with established conditions.
“I have the copy of the approval letter and can show it to you later. I also instructed these MPs to sit in the public gallery so that they could still participate in the voting process.
“They made me understand that this (time off) exception is not new, as the same has been done before for patients under surveillance who have to attend funerals or visit loved ones during an emergency situation.
“I allowed these MPs to wear their personal protective equipment and the decision was made after taking into account the safety and health of everyone here,” Azhar said.
He also said that these three MPs were accompanied by sergeants at arms to the House to participate during the voting process and their attendance was also taken.
Once the vote is done, the MPs are escorted back to a separate room and had to wait for the next voting process, Azhar said.
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