KUALA LUMPUR: The number of individuals, including MPs, allowed to be present at the Parliament meeting beginning Sept 6 will be looked into so that there is a preventive measure against the spread of Covid-19, says Deputy Speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon.

       “This is to ensure that the meeting runs smoothly and to prevent Covid-19 transmissions, unlike what transpired during the special five-day sitting last month,” he said.

       In this regard, the Dewan Rakyat Committee, based on the advice of the Health Ministry and the National Security Council, would hold discussions with both the government and Opposition chief whips soon.

       “As done before this, the Dewan Rakyat Committee will call in both chief whips for discussion.

       “Learn from what happened during the recent special sitting. We need more solid prevention measures in place,” Mohd Rashid told Bernama after giving food baskets to 50 veteran artistes during a programme organised by the Malaysian Veteran Artistes Welfare Association in Desa Melawati here yesterday. The special sitting was supposed to take place from July 26-29 and Aug 2, but only met for four days and was postponed after Covid-19 cases were detected in the Parliament building.

       Up to Aug 8, a total of 88 cases were detected involving individuals who attended the special sitting.

       As for the motion of confidence on Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin that was expected to be tabled in the upcoming meeting, Mohd Rashid said Parliament had yet to receive such a motion.

       “For government motions, the submission period is not that far off from the date of the sitting compared to private motions, which need to be submitted 14 days before,” he said.

       Prior to this, Muhyiddin said his legitimacy as Prime Minister and the Perikatan Nasional government’s position would be determined in Parliament next month through a vote of confidence.

       “A notification for MPs is in the distribution process to enable them to prepare their questions and other matters,” said Mohd Rashid.

       The first meeting of the Fourth Session of the 14th Parliament will sit for 15 days from Sept 6-30, while the second meeting will run for 32 days from Oct 25 to Dec 16.

       Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah will officiate the opening ceremony on Sept 6.