PUTRAJAYA (April 27): The Ministry of Health has distanced itself from discussions about whether the Parliament should reconvene as scheduled on May 18.

"With regard to the Parliament, we advise [the prime minister] based on data and facts about the progress of Covid-19 transmission in this country — for example whether it is increasing or decreasing. That is our role.

"But other than that, I think it's beyond MoH to advise on policy matters and so on," said MoH director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah during his daily press briefing today.

He was responding to a question about the ministry's stand on the Parliament session that is scheduled to be held on May 18. It has been reported that the Dewan Rakyat will reconvene that day, but for one day only. It was said that in line with the Movement Control Order (MCO), the sitting will be held only to discuss government bills and matters.

The Parliament was previously scheduled to reconvene on March 9 but was postponed by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin after he took office on March 1. The delay was criticised by opposition lawmakers at the time as undemocratic.

If Parliament is to reconvene as scheduled, Noor Hisham said members of Parliament will all be required to undergo temperature screening at the Parliament to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmissions.

Health checks such as this will not only be conducted at the Parliament building, but also at the premises of all other institutions, including offices and restaurants, as part of the “new norm” during and after the MCO, he said.

"Yes, we are looking into it (conducting health screenings at Parliament). So, it will also be in line [with the practice at] any other institutions, whereby if you come to MoH, we make sure that we have the thermal scanner and screenings. All that will be in place [at the Parliament]," he said today during his daily Covid-19 briefings.