‘Most MPs fully vaccinated’

KUALA LUMPUR: Most MPs have received two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, says Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun.

He said 35 MPs had received at least one dose of the vaccine while four had not been vaccinated for certain reasons.

“All MPs are allowed to come to Parliament even if they are not vaccinated.

“However, we advise those who are not vaccinated to be careful because we cannot stop them from performing their duties under the Federal Constitution,” he told a virtual press conference detailing the preparations for the five-day special Parliament meeting which begins tomorrow.

Meanwhile, three MPs are reported to have failed a Covid-19 screening carried out on Friday ahead of the special meeting.

Another four MPs were said to be close contacts of Covid-19 patients and all seven are currently undergoing compulsory quarantine, news portal Astro Awani reported yesterday.

Azhar said he had previously held discussions with National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who agreed that all parliamentary staff should be vaccinated, and so far, 90% of them had received both shots.

Commenting on the preparations for the meeting, Azhar said Parliament had set certain “house rules”, among which was to ensure that every individual who came to Parliament, including contractors, ministry staff and ministerial escort officers, was vaccinated.

As a security measure, Azhar said every individual, including MPs, officers on duty, parliamentary staff, media personnel, contractors’ workers, drivers and bodyguards, would have to undergo a swab test.

The Dewan Negara will convene for three days beginning Aug 3. — Bernama