Speaker, deputy positive for Covid-19, Negeri assembly sitting put off

SEREMBAN: The first meeting of the fifth session of the Negeri Sembilan state assembly scheduled to start today has been postponed to a date to be announced after the speaker and his deputy tested positive for Covid-19.

Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Aminuddin Harun said he and state secretary Razali Ab Malik had an audience this morning with the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, to inform him of the matter and to seek his consent to adjourn the meeting.

Tuanku Muhriz had been scheduled to open the four-day sitting.

“Apart from the two leaders, there are 23 officers, including department heads in the state, who are infected with Covid-19.

“This is the first time the state assembly meeting has been postponed. This is due to the pandemic.

“According to the Standing Orders, a temporary speaker can be appointed but because many state legislature staffers are also infected with Covid-19, the meeting has to be postponed,” he told reporters here.

Aminuddin said apart from that, the Customary Land Tenure Enactment Bill 2022 and the Jempol Municipal Council Enactment Bill 2022, which were to be tabled at this meeting, required the presence of the speaker and his deputy.

On another matter, the state government has received cooperation from the Negeri Sembilan Association of the Deaf to provide sign language interpreter services to ensure that the hearing impaired can follow the proceedings of the state assembly this time. — Free Malaysia Today