KUALA LUMPUR (July 29): The Dewan Rakyat’s afternoon session was postponed for three times today, before it was finally adjourned to next Monday, amid concerns about Covid-19 infections in the Parliament. 

The session was first suspended at 12.28pm for 15 minutes, amid a commotion on the floor after Istana Negara stated that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had not approved the revocation of the emergency ordinance on July 21, as claimed by the government.
 
The second postponement was announced at 2.30pm, amid news that cabinet ministers and government MPs had gathered at the residence of Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin following the Istana Negara's statement.

Then at 3.30pm, Deputy Speaker Datuk Rashid Hason announced the third postponement, as he cited a letter from Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah that two coronavirus cases — one of which was detected this morning — have been found in the building.

“Regrettably, please be informed that the Ministry of Health received a letter at 12.30pm about two positive Covid-19 cases among those who attended Parliament. It is requested that tests be conducted on all who attended the session including the MPs. No one is allowed to exit the Parliament compound until the results are obtained,” Rashid said.

One of the two cases involved an individual who was in the Parliament from Monday to Wednesday, while the other was detected today during the daily screening.

Finally, at 5.15pm, Rashid informed the floor that the Dewan Rakyat sitting had been further adjourned to Monday.

On the first day of the five-day special meeting of the Dewan Rakyat on July 26, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law) Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan informed the house that the Cabinet had revoked all emergency ordinances on July 21.

Some MPs questioned the minister’s statement on grounds that only the King can make such a decision. The Emergency Proclamation itself is scheduled to end on Aug 1.

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