By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, Oct 31: The MPs of Democratic Action Party (DAP) from Sarawak will follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs) set out by the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) for the public when attending the upcoming Parliament sitting in Kuala Lumpur.
DAP Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen in a statement today said all the MPs from the political party from Sarawak will not seek exemption with the committee provided for the “Very Important Persons (VIP) or those on official duties to Kuala Lumpur.
He noted that SDMC has two sets of SOPs, one for the members of the public and one for VIPs attending official duties in Sarawak.
For the SOPs for the public, Chong said those who returned to Sarawak from West Malaysia will be subject to 14-days quarantine.
As for the SOPs for those on official duties, the Stampin MP said they were exempted from the 14-days quarantine restrictions subject to certain procedures to comply.
“Though attending Parliament sitting is one of those official duties that is allowed the 14-day exemption, DAP MPs will not avail themselves of such exemption.
“We believe, comparing the two SOPs, those subject to the 14-day quarantine SOP will have a lesser chance of infecting others and spreading the Covid-19 virus.
“Therefore, as the current budget session of the Parliament sitting will start from November 2 until December 15, so long as the 14-days quarantine is applicable to the general public of Sarawak, the DAP MPs will remain in Kuala Lumpur throughout the duration and will not be back in their respective constituencies during weekends,” he said.
Chong said if the 14-days quarantine SOP is still applicable to the general public at the end of the Parliament session, the DAP MPs will also comply with such quarantine SOP until the end of the quarantine period.
Chong who is also Kota Sentosa assemblyman pointed out that the MPs from the political party will not treat themselves differently from any other common Sarawakian.
In the meantime, Chong said MPs from the party will continue to serve their constituents through their assistants in their respective constituencies. —DayakDaily
