ISKANDAR PUTERI – The State Legislative Assembly sitting in Johor has been postponed to August 22 in order to improve safety and compliance of standard operating procedures (SOPs), said Speaker Suhaizan Kayat.
Suhaizan made the announcement after Johor’s Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar gave his speech before the opening of the assembly sitting today.
“I hereby decide that the first meeting of the Fourth Session of the 14th State Assembly which is supposed to resume this Sunday, August 15, will be postponed to August 22.
“It is to enable health risk assessment as well as on the advice by the Health Ministry (MoH), which is taken into account with the implementation of stricter SOPs,” Suhaizan said when adjourning the sitting today.
Meanwhile, Menteri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad said the postponement of the sitting had to be done to improve SOP compliance to prevent what happened in Parliament to be repeated at the state assembly.
“The state government does not want what happened in Parliament to happen during the state assembly sitting. It had to be postponed halfway after Covid-19 cases were detected there.
“At this time, the speaker is reviewing the SOPs on the duration of the sitting and how long each proceeding can be held. This matter will be discussed with the MoH,” Hasni told the press after the sitting was adjourned.
In addition, Hasni said the state government plans to form a “movement bubble” for all 56 assemblymen to ensure their safety.
“The state government will form a movement bubble for the assemblymen. They will be placed at a secure location and safe from any possibility of coming into close contact with any party to avoid the risk of Covid-19 infection during the sitting.
“To further enhance compliance of SOP, requirements, such as the installation of transparent plexiglass, number of attendees, rules before attending the sitting and during the proceeding, need to be scrutinised,” he said.
The state assembly was initially scheduled to sit for seven days from August 12 to 22. – The Vibes, August 12, 2021
