JOHOR BARU: The Johor State Assembly sitting will go ahead as scheduled on Aug 12 despite two assemblymen having tested positive for Covid-19.
State Speaker Suhaizan Kayat said the two were public works, infrastructure and transportation committee chairman Solihan Badri, who is also Tenang assemblyman, and Mahkota assemblyman Muhamad Said Jonit of PKR, who defected from Parti Amanah Negara early this year.
“With Solihan having tested positive for Covid-19, all state leaders, including myself, recently went for a swab test after we came into close contact with him.
“Alhamdulilah, all state executive councillors and I tested negative for Covid-19,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Suhaizan, who is Amanah national organising secretary, said he contacted the two assemblymen to see how they were doing.
“Both assemblymen are in good and healthy condition as they have been vaccinated and Muhamad Said told me that he is at stage one (Category One) of Covid-19 and should make a full recovery soon.
“However, all 56 assemblymen and government officials attending the sitting must go for a swab test next Monday,” he said.
He said those who tested positive for Covid-19 would not be allowed to attend the sitting as a precaution.
“God willing, the state assembly sitting next Thursday will go ahead as planned without any hiccups,” he added.
When asked if there are any motions for the state assembly to debate, Suhaizan said he had only received one, from Skudai assemblyman Tan Hong Pin.
He said the motion from Tan was about Covid-19, including the vaccination rate and the National Recovery Plan.
“So far, that is the only motion I received as the assemblymen have about 14 days before the sitting starts to file a motion and since we have about a week before the state assembly starts, there will not be enough time for another motion,” he said.
“Any assemblyman can file an emergency motion but there are several criteria that should be met and then only I, as the state Speaker, can decide whether such motion can go ahead or not.”