Covid 19 Testing For Mps On May 14 15 Before Dewan Rakyat Sitting

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CORONAVIRUS | Parliamentarians are being required to undergo Covid-19 testing on either May 14 or 15 as a prerequisite to attending the one-day Parliament sitting on May 18
DAP's Bukit Bendera MP Wong Hon Wai confirmed getting a letter signed by Dewan Rakyat secretary Riduan Rahmat in which it states that in order to ensure the safety of MPs attending the sitting, each of them will be required to present themselves for a test
According to the letter sighted by Malaysiakini, Covid-19 screening tests will be carried out in the Parliament complex between 9am and 3pm on May 14 and 15
The letter also said that MPs can choose to go to a nearby government hospital or clinic but will need to get official letters confirming that the tests were carried out within two to three days before the sitting
Should they choose to conduct the test in a private clinic or hospital, the costs will not be borne by Parliament
"MPs who fail to take the test or have a positive reading for Covid-19 will not be permitted to attend the sitting," said Riduan
Yesterday, Pakatan Harapan representatives had met with Dewan Rakyat Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusoff in Parliament, and they reported that Ariff said all MPs will be required to do testing two days before May 18
It was also reported that the speaker’s office is also currently liaising with the Health Ministry to allow MPs from Sabah and Sarawak to be exempted from the 14-day quarantine once they return from Kuala Lumpur
However, another Harapan source, who also attended the meeting with the speaker, reminded that Sabah and Sarawak have their own health departments as well as their own rules regarding quarantine
“So, they will have to check with them also,” the source said
Previously, the Sarawak state government had issued an order on all returning Sarawakians from Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah or Labuan to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine at designated quarantine centres. Sabah had imposed a similar order
The Parliament sitting on May 18 will be the first of the year as well as the first since the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government was formed
Harapan has since objected to the sitting taking place for only one day as well as the lack of a question-and-answer session
However, PN has defended its decision, saying these are measures taken in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. - Mkini

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