Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin said there were several important matters that Parliament has to deal with.

They include the tabling of the 12th Malaysia Plan (2021-2025) and supplementary budget for 2021 to deal with the increase in Covid-19 cases.

“Elected representatives bring the voices of the people to the government and deal with matters that affect the people the most. This ensures that democracy is alive.

“Matters essential to the foundation of the country must go on, and the checks on the executive by the legislature must go on,” he said in a statement.

Chan, the Sabah DAP secretary, said all parliamentary officers and MPs’ assistants attending Parliament should also be given the vaccine.

He welcomed Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s announcement yesterday that all elected representatives from both sides of the political divide will be vaccinated under Phase 1 of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.

He said elected representatives will be able to carry out their duties in their constituencies with lesser risks of being infected or unknowingly transmitting the virus to others.

However, he said Parliament should reconvene in May after Phase 1 of the programme – from Feb 26 to April – is completed.

PKR chief organising secretary Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the government does not have any excuse to continue with the emergency and suspension of Parliament.

“After all, almost all sectors of the economy have already been opened,” the Setiawangsa MP said in a separate statement, adding that the same principle should be applied to Parliament, where MPs can meet while following standard operating procedures.

He said it was important for MPs to bring up issues faced by their constituents and ensure legislation is properly debated and passed.