KUALA LUMPUR: The RM3,000 compound notices issued to Opposition MPs who attempted to march from Dataran Merdeka to Parliament on Aug 2 will be reduced, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.

       "Based on the notion of cooperation between the government and lawmakers, the matter was agreed following discussions with the Health Minister that the compound notices issued by the police to MPs at that time will be lowered.

       "The compound notices remain, but lowered, as we do not want to have double standards between MPs and the rakyat who have also held gatherings (during the movement control order period)," he said when responding to questions on the issue in Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Sept 14).

       However, he did not specify how much the quantum would be.

       Hamzah said that the compound notices were not issued because MPs wanted to enter Parliament but due to the gathering they held on Aug 2.

       "The government wanted to take care of MPs on that day so that they can attend proceedings today.

       "It was common knowledge at that time that the virus had spread in Parliament," he said, drawing chuckles from the floor.

       On Aug 2, Opposition MPs attempted to march from Dataran Merdeka to Parliament to protest against former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and his Cabinet by calling for their resignation.

       However, the MP were barred by the police from doing so.

       The protest march came after the five-day special sitting of Dewan Rakyat, which began on July 26 and was supposed to end on Aug 3, was abruptly postponed.

       Earlier, several MPs including Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (PH-Port Dickson) questioned why the police had prevented lawmakers from entering Parliament on Aug 2, contrary to a motion passed for the Inspector-General of Police to ensure that all MPs would be granted free access to Parliament.

       Wong Kah Woh (PH-Ipoh Timur), who heads Parliament's Public Account Committee, informed the House that he was told he would be arrested although he had received an invitation by the Dewan Rakyat secretary to go ahead with PAC proceedings that day.

       RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) said that MPs merely wanted to go into Parliament to get their personal belongings which they had left behind at their seats before Aug 2.

       Hamzah denied giving police orders to prevent MPs from entering Parliament that day, adding that enforcement was done in accordance with Act 342 to prevent large gatherings based on information the Health Ministry received.

       Meanwhile, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun informed lawmakers that he ordered the doors of Parliament to be opened for MPs.

       He added that he was unaware of the police actions outside Parliament.