Speaker: No decision on limiting number of MPs

THERE is no limit to the number of MPs in the chamber until a new decision on the matter is made, says Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun.

He said the initial decision by the House Committee on Friday to not limit the number of attendees in the chamber as well as to have the meeting adjourned at 5.30pm would still stand.

“We have yet to finalise whether to limit the number of attendees at any one time and also the duration of the sitting, we are still waiting for agreement from the Opposition.

“However, I want to ask for the cooperation of all party chiefs so that we can rotate the attendance in this hall every hour because the Health director-general is very concerned about the spread of Covid-19 in Parliament,” he said in his opening address.

Azhar also encouraged everyone to wear double masks, citing the risks of the airborne Delta variant.

He also informed the House that two MPs had been found positive for Covid-19 and five to six others were under quarantine for being close contacts.

“For everyone’s knowledge, 12 Parliament staff are tested positive and 58 staff are under quarantine as they are close contacts,” he said.

Bagan Datuk MP Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Nibong Tebal MP Datuk Mansor Othman have confirmed that they are positive for the virus.

Both are fully vaccinated and are asymptomatic, and will not be attending the special sitting.