De facto law minister Takiyuddin Hassan told the MPs, who were confused and upset by the announcement, that a decision will be made daily on the sitting times.

The announcement came after speaker Azhar Harun held a meeting with 10 MPs about half-an-hour after the house reconvened at 10am.

The 10 were Mohamed Azmin Ali (PPBM-Gombak), Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (BN-Bagan Datuk), Ismail Sabri Yaakob (Umno-Bera), Shahidan Kassim (BN-Arau), Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh (PAS-Pasir Puteh), Anthony Loke (DAP-Seremban), Johari Abdul (PKR-Sungai Petani), Hasanuddin Mohd Yunus (PAS-Hulu Langat), Rozman Isli (Warisan-Labuan) and Takiyuddin (PAS-Kota Bahru).

Takiyuddin said the decision was made under Standing Order 12 (1) due to Covid-19.

He said Parliament was under the Segambut district and the health ministry has said the risk of Covid-19 infection is high.

“Based on the meeting (with the speaker), all MPs have agreed (to end the sitting early),” he said, prompting M Kula Segaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat) to urge the speaker to hold a virtual parliamentary meeting instead.

Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Bagan) said he was not informed of the decision and proposed for more time before further decisions were made.

Earlier, Takiyuddin said the daily sitting may end at 1pm this week but made a U-turn after opposition MPs pressed him for an answer. He then said a decision will be made daily.

He assured those unhappy with the decision that it will not affect the budget debates.

“These are the new developments that concern us,” he said.

He also said it will take more than two hours daily – from 7am to 9am – for the sanitisation team to clean the house.

“I am not a doctor but the health ministry says the risk is high as we are in close (proximity) despite the transparent barriers (between MPs).

“The longer we are here the higher the risk,” he said.

There was also an exchange of words between the speaker and a PKR MP.

M Karupaiya (PKR-Padang Serai) remarked that it was better to change the government, irking Azhar, who asked: “What has this got to do with this Standing Order”.

Hanipa Maidin (Amanah-Sepang) told Azhar not to reply on behalf of the minister.

Azhar: Who is replying?

Hanipa: Just now he (Karupaiya) asked and you answered.

Kula Segaran said many countries are holding virtual parliamentary meetings for their MPs, to which Azhar called for a voice vote, which saw the majority of the MPs agreeing to such online meetings.

No decision, however, was made to hold the Dewan Rakyat sittings virtually.