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Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – The King of Malaysia, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Abdullah, rejected Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s request to declare an emergency against the Covid-19 pandemic because he considered it unnecessary.
The move was a blow to Muhyiddin, who faces challenges to the leadership of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and infighting within his ruling coalition, according to Reuters on Sunday.
Anwar and other critics have criticized Muhyiddin’s proposals, including a parliamentary suspension, as the prime minister’s attempts to stay in power by avoiding fights in parliament over the support he ordered.
The palace said Muhyiddin requested emergency rules to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, but the government said it was handling the crisis well.
Malaysia saw an increase in cases per day, the largest daily increase in cases with 1,228 new cases.
“Al-Sultan Abdullah is of the opinion that at this time the Yang di-Pertuan Agong does not need to announce an emergency in the country or anywhere in Malaysia,” the palace said in a statement.
“The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is confident in the ability of the government under the leadership of the prime minister to continue implementing policies and law enforcement efforts to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The king also called on politicians to end political conflicts that could affect the stability of the government.
The constitution gives the King the right to decide whether to declare a state of emergency, based on a threat to security, the economy or public order. His decision was made after meetings with other royals, the palace said.
Muhyiddin has been in a precarious position since he took office in March with a majority of just two parliamentary seats. Last month, Anwar said that with the help of lawmakers who have defected from the government, he has a parliamentary majority to form a new government.
The Muhyiddin government will present its 2021 budget in parliament on November 6. But there are doubts that it can lead the majority to its approval.
A budget loss would be counted as a vote of no confidence in Muhyiddin and could trigger an election.
Oh Ei Sun, a senior fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, said Muhyiddin remains in an unstable position even though some politicians may hear the Sultan’s calls to halt the policy.
“Muhyiddin from now on will be colored by these regressive political efforts, reducing his already shaky popular support,” Oh said.
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