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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) – Malaysia’s prime minister faced calls to resign on both sides of the political aisle on Monday after the king rejected his coronavirus emergency proposal that critics saw as an undemocratic attempt to cling to power.
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s proposal that the king declare a state of emergency over a new COVID-19 outbreak would have suspended Parliament and allowed him to dodge an imminent proof of his support.
Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah “is of the opinion that it is currently not necessary for His Majesty to declare a state of emergency in this country or anywhere in Malaysia,” the palace said on Sunday.
Coronavirus cases in Malaysia doubled to more than 26,000 in just three weeks following a new outbreak, mainly in the state of Sabah on the island of Borneo. Politicians on both sides of the division, as well as legal and medical experts, have said that an emergency declaration is unnecessary and that enough laws exist to slow public movement and impose sanctions to curb the virus.
Some have warned that declaring an emergency could ruin the economy and plunge Malaysia into dictatorship. Emergency laws were last invoked nationally in 1969 during the deadly race riots.
In the palace statement, the king said that the government has handled the pandemic well and that he believes Muhyiddin is capable of dealing with the crisis, although he also called for the cessation of “all politicking” that could disturb the stability of the government.
Hours later, Muhyiddin said the cabinet took note of the king’s decision and will further discuss the decree. Local media said the cabinet is expected to meet later on Monday. His assistant could not immediately be reached for comment.
“The priority of the Cabinet and the government at this time is to protect citizens from the COVID-19 disease,” he said in a short statement. He also thanked the king for advice to ensure the stability of his government.
Muhyiddin took office in March, but only has a two-seat majority in Parliament. Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim says he has majority support but needs the monarch’s approval to form a new government, and the largest party in the ruling coalition is angry about being sidelined in Muhyiddin’s government.
A key test comes in early November, when your government must seek approval of its 2021 budget in Parliament. If you cannot pass the bill, the pressure will increase to resign or call new elections. A state of emergency could allow him to pass the budget without a vote and consolidate support, and he could govern through ordinances that could not be challenged in court.
“However you look at it, there are indications that the prime minister has realized that he has indeed lost the majority,” said Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid, professor of political science at the Malaysian University of Sciences.
Both sides were calling for Muhyiddin’s resignation.
Puad Zarkashi, a senior official in the largest Malaysian party in his ruling coalition, said that the king was fortunately not swayed by the political game that could plunge the country into a deeper crisis. He wrote on Facebook that “Muhyiddin should resign.”
Opposition lawmaker Wong Chen called on the prime minister to resign or fire the ministers who proposed the emergency.
Despite the king’s rejection of the call for a state of emergency, his backing for the Muhyiddin government could offer a pardon and help the prime minister pass the budget bill.
