Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Harun has ordered all 222 MPs to avoid crowded places and events and also to undergo COVID-19 swab tests every two weeks, until the Parliament session ends in mid-December.

This is to prevent a Parliament cluster from emerging, after several aides of a senator were found to be infected with the coronavirus, the speaker said in a statement, after a meeting with Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

The measures were read aloud by Azhar's deputy Azalina Othman in Parliament today.

"MPs are advised to limit their movements outside Parliament, and avoid organising or attending events and gatherings involving a large number of people.

"All MPs and their officers should also undergo COVID-19 swab tests once every two weeks," he said, adding that a notice on this will be released from time to time.

If such events are unavoidable, they must strictly adhere to the regulations and standard operating procedures (SOP) set by the National Security Council and Ministry of Health.

Any detection of COVID-19 cases on Parliament grounds could lead to the closure of the Parliament complex, he warned further.

The daily Parliament session since the sitting resumed on Monday, has been shortened to until 1pm, after four aides to a senator were found to have been infected with the coronavirus.

Budget 2021 is expected to be presented on Friday afternoon.

The total number of COVID-19 infections and deaths in the country stands at 34,393, and 263, respectively.

Globally, the coronavirus has infected more than 47.8 million people and killed over 1.2 million.


Source: Astro Awani
Photo source: Astro Awani