He said that with the vaccination programme starting at the end of February for frontliners, including MPs and state assemblymen, the Parliamentary sitting postponed until August after emergency was declared could now convene as scheduled next month.
“If the government considers MPs and state assemblymen as frontliners, then Parliament can still carry on in March. It should not be suspended,” he told FMT.
However, Mahfuz also hopes Malaysian citizens will be given priority before the Covid-19 vaccines are offered to foreigners, of all status.
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had announced earlier that MPs and state assemblymen will be among the recipients of the Covid-19 vaccine under the first phase of the national Covid-19 immunisation programme.
Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar also welcomed the move, saying they met the public frequently and were part of a high-risk group, just like the frontliners.
“It will help to curb the transmission,” she told FMT.
Nurul Izzah also hoped prisoners, prison officers and their families would be given vaccinations early, as the authorities have so far failed to curb the spread of the virus in detention centres.
Amanah’s Salahuddin Ayub, however, had a different view.
He said not all MPs and state assemblymen need to be vaccinated in the first phase of the vaccination roll out that starts at the end of February.
He told FMT that he hopes priority would be given to frontliners and high risk groups such as medical staff, the aged and children as the number of vaccines in the first phase are limited.
Seputeh MP Teresa Kok also supported Muhyiddin’s call for politicians to be vaccinated first. She told FMT that this is because Cabinet ministers have failed to follow Covid-19 standard operating procedures.
“But we know those who have been vaccinated need to continue following SOPs, too. They cannot do as they like and need to set an example by leadership,” she added.
Earlier, Pakatan Harapan had also issued a statement to back the immunisation programme, saying its success was crucial for economic recovery.
“We hope politicians will cooperate and give their support to the health ministry,” it said.
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