KUALA LUMPUR – The postponement of the special parliamentary sitting on Monday will not stop Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman from going to Parliament.
The Muda founder in a Facebook post today said lawmakers are paid to perform their duties in the Dewan Rakyat.
“Parliament will be shut supposedly because of Covid-19, but the positivity rate is only 0.9%. So, afraid to debate on the ordinances?
“Don’t think the rakyat is stupid. I will still go to Parliament this Monday. If you want to stop me, so be it. I am not afraid.”
It is uncertain whether other MPs will also make their way to the august House on the last day of the special sitting on Monday.
Syed Saddiq’s remark follows Dewan Rakyat secretary Nizam Mydin Bacha Mydin’s earlier announcement of the indefinite postponement of the special sitting on Monday, citing the Covid-19 “outbreak” in Parliament last week.
The final day of the sitting was scheduled to focus on the emergency proclamation and its ordinances – the latter of which was revoked on July 26 without royal consent.
Law Minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan was supposed to provide an explanation on his announcement of the revocation, while MPs debate on the emergency.
Nizam Mydin said the postponement follows an order issued by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to the Dewan Rakyat Speaker’s office, in line with Standing Order 11(3) of the House.
The provision grants the prime minister the power to decide a meeting when Parliament is not officially in session. The current proceeding is only a special sitting.
Nizam Mydin said the postponement is consistent with Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah’s proposal and a risk assessment conducted by the ministry, after 11 individuals tested positive at the House on Thursday.
However, Pakatan Harapan presidential council, in a separate statement, said the 11 cases represent only 0.9% of the 1,183 individuals tested – lower than the World Health Organisation’s threshold of 5% for an outbreak to be considered high-risk.
The council told the government to not use this as an excuse to suspend the proceedings, and urged all quarters, including health officials, to not conspire in the bid to shut down the august House. – The Vibes, July 31, 2021
