PARLIAMENT In a rare display of bipartisanship, an Umno MP today agreed with a proposal by a DAP MP on the need for legislations to make workplaces more breastfeeding friendly.

Teo Nie Ching (DAP-Kulai) said advances in technology already made pumping breastmilk at the workplace possible, but work environments in Malaysia generally made it unsuitable to do so.

"We should create a more mother friendly environment so working mothers can pump breastmilk at the workplace without disturbance.

"Can the Health Ministry work together with the Human Resource ministry to create a law so that work places are more breastfeeding friendly?" Teo asked during the Health Ministry's Budget 2017 committee stage wrap-up.

Upon completing her remarks, Irmohizam Ibrahim (BN-Kuala Selangor) stood up and said that he supported the proposal.

"I support Kulai, I have heard complaints about unsuitable environments.

"This can create problems in families and it is a serious matter," Irmohizam said.

Teo thanked him for his support.

Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam said he agreed with their proposal and noted that he had earlier in his speech urged employers to take heed of the growing number of nursing mothers in the workforce.

"The number of nursing mothers can be increased if the infrastructure is provided," Subramaniam said.

Parliament itself recently installed a lactation room for nursing mothers, such as Teo.