KUALA LUMPUR – The tabling of proposed amendments to the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342), which were slated to be discussed and decided upon today, have been postponed to the next Parliament sitting.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the decision was made after discussing the matter with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, apart from taking into account the current flood situation in the country.
“According to Standing Order 62 of the Dewan Rakyat, I propose the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Amendment) Bill 2021 in the order of business of the meeting today be postponed for the second and third reading to the next meeting,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat today.
The sitting was supposed to end last Thursday, but was extended for one more day today to discuss and pass the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Amendment) Bill 2021.
According to Khairy, the ministry had engaged with the parliamentary select committee on health, science and innovation at 8am today, in line with the spirit of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on transformation and political stability between the federal government and Pakatan Harapan (PH).
He said he had tabled the details on the amendments to Act 342, including the rules and guidelines required in the amendment.
“We have also heard the views of a group of experts who gave suggestions and advice to the select committee.
“I have been informed by the chairman of this select committee, Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen (Bandar Kuching-PH) that the committee made a unanimous decision to postpone it (amendment).
“Most of the substantive matters have already been agreed upon. There are only a few details that still need to be discussed,” he added.
Khairy said if the bill was approved without consensus among political parties, it would hamper the implementation of the amendment.
The bill, which includes increasing the maximum compound on individuals and corporate organisations violating the law, was tabled for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat last Tuesday.
Among the proposed amendments is an increase in compound from RM1,000 to RM1 million for a corporate body.
For individual offences, a fine of up to RM10,000 could be imposed – a spike from the current maximum of RM1,000.
Earlier, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun adjourned the Dewan Rakyat sitting for 15 minutes, as the engagement session on the amendments to Act 342 had not ended.
Meanwhile, Anwar welcomed the postponement of the amendments, as it will enable the proposed changes to be reviewed so that measures to combat Covid-19 and other communicable diseases could be addressed more effectively.
He said based on the spirit of the MoU, the engagement session should continue to allow careful study of provisions in the bill, including taking into account the views of various parties.
“Basically we agree there should be rules. What we don't agree with is the burden on the people, such as the high compound and broad discretion for enforcement that does not refer to the court process and coordination with local authorities,” he said.
Anwar said several substantive matters regarding the proposed amendments had been taken into account, including lowering or cancelling the proposed compound increase of RM10,000 on individuals.
Separately, Dr Yii recommended that guidelines on enforcement should be disseminated to the public before the bill is tabled in Parliament. – Bernama, December 20, 2021
