COVID-19: All MPs required to wear face masks in Parliament
SINGAPORE — All Members of Parliament (MPs) are now required to wear face masks while attending parliamentary sessions, except when delivering speeches.
The move was announced at the start of Monday’s (4 May) session by Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin. “As I've said before...the onus remains on us parliamentarians to continue to lead in critical times, both within this chamber and within our communities,” Tan said.
He and the other MPs were wearing masks during the ongoing session.
A Bill would be read later in the day by Leader of the House Grace Fu, which proposes amending Singapore’s Constitution to allow “Parliament and its committees to meet and dispatch business with members being present at two or more appointed places, if necessary”, Tan added.
“The ultimate form and modalities of such continuity arrangements would be looked into once the Bill is passed,” he said. “We will learn where we can from other countries and other Parliaments and implement what works best in our Singapore contexts”.
Tan also conveyed the House’s “best regards” to Workers’ Party (WP) MP Low Thia Khiang who is warded in the intensive care unit (ICU).
A day earlier, the WP announced that its former Secretary-General was admitted to the ICU after a fall at his home. “We wish him a speedy recovery and our thoughts all with him,” Tan added.
Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore
More Singapore stories:
COVID-19: Man, 60, charged for failing to wear mask, abusing police officers
COVID-19: ‘I am a sovereign’ woman who refused to wear mask at Shunfu market apprehended
Former Workers' Party Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang in intensive care unit
COVID-19: Singapore to ease some circuit breaker measures starting next week
