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KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian parliament building will be ordered closed in the event of positive cases of COVID-19 infection, Lower House Speaker Dewan Rakyat Azhar Azizan Harun said on Wednesday (November 4).
“If there were positive cases in parliament, the Ministry of Health (MOH) will make an evaluation of the appropriate standard operating procedures (SOPs),” he said in a statement that was read by Vice President Azalina Othman Said.
Parliament is currently in session, and the presentation of the 2021 budget is scheduled for Friday.
This week’s session was halted after Upper House staff tested positive for COVID-19. Daily sessions are only held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
On Monday, Health Ministry Director General Noor Hisham Abdullah said seven people were found to be positive for COVID-19 from an examination conducted before the parliament meeting and subsequent contact follow-up.
Malaysia is currently on a third increase in COVID-19 cases and the national count has exceeded 34,000 cases.
LEE: Malaysia reports 1,054 new cases of COVID-19, adolescent among the 12 new deaths
In his statement, the speaker said that all members of Parliament (MP) have also been advised to limit their movements while inside or outside the parliament building during the session.
The notice was issued by the Ministry of Health as a precautionary measure after the increase in COVID-19 cases in the country, he added.
“Following the recent increase in COVID-19 cases, preventive measures have been and are being taken to ensure that Dewan Rakyat’s session can be conducted safely,” he said.
Azhar said MPs should also avoid socializing or attending meetings, avoid crowded places and always adhere to the stipulated SOP.
He said the Ministry of Health also recommended to all MPs not to hold banquets or meetings with large numbers of attendees inside or outside the parliament building.
“If the honorable members need to meet or meet physically, they must strictly comply with the SOP established by the National Security Council and the Ministry of Health,” he said.
Azhar added that all MPs and parliament staff must also take the COVID-19 test every two weeks and the parliament administration will issue the notification on the matter from time to time.
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