By Adrian Lim
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 14: The opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) staged a walkout in protest over the decision by Parliament Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun to allow three MPs who were under home quarantine for Covid-19 to attend the voting of the Budget 2021.
The majority of the MPs from the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) were seen leaving the august House when bloc voting was called.
Kuala Langat MP Datuk Dr Xavier Jayakumar asked,” What reasons for those MPs to be allowed to be present in Parliament when they have been categorised as close contacts?
In response, Azhar said the allowance was made for the three MPs to attend the Parliament today to vote after an opposition MP broke the quarantine rule last Thursday and attended the Parliament session to vote.
Azhar added, ”It’s best that I regulate this voting session.
“I do not want that to happen again and I will take action. Therefore, I will regulate this voting.
Nonetheless, opposition MPs were not happy with the ruling and a large commotion broke up between members of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) Backbenchers Club and the opposition MPs.
Azhar explained that the three MPs who were under home quarantine had tested negative for Covid-19.
Thereafter, Dr Xavier said, ”You are making a mockery of the law!”
Meanwhile, an MP from the PN backencher harboured the opposition for being cowardly while another MP asked them to leave the august House.
Earlier, Azhar informed the august House that the three MPs who were under home quarantine were allowed to attend the Budget 2021 voting in the public gallery at the Parliament.
However, he revealed that the MPs were required to wear full personal protective equipment (PPE) in Parliament and they will be escorted in an ambulance.
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong on his Facebook page wrote that three MPs namely Tapah MP Datuk Seri M. Saravanan who is also Human Resources Minister, Tenggara MP Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba who is also Health Minister and Batu MP P. Prabakaran came to the Parliament to vote in PPE.
He said the trio were undergoing Home Surveillance Order (HSO) by the Health Ministry and had sought permission from Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah to attend the voting session in Parliament today.
Wee said it was the new norm of the Parliament session and he also uploaded the photos of the trio in PPE on his Facebook account. — DayakDaily
