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KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s embattled Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin spent Monday morning (October 26) locked in meetings with top government leaders as his administration faces Sunday’s (October 25) royal rejection of his request for emergency powers.
His pact’s Perikatan Nasional (PN) party chiefs attended the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) early Monday, but a notable absence was Umno President Zahid Hamidi, who in recent weeks threatened to withdraw support from the party to Tan Sri Muhyiddin. .
Muhyiddin, who heads Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, was scheduled to hold a special cabinet meeting at 11.30 am, amid speculation that Zahid is ready to carry out the threat he had reversed last week.
However, several Umno ministers came to the PMO, indicating that the party is divided on whether to continue supporting the prime minister who felt embarrassed after the Malaysian king refused to proclaim an emergency amid an outbreak of resurgent coronavirus.
The plan to call an emergency is apparently to allow the government to tackle the pandemic without political distractions, but critics have dismissed it as a ploy by Muhyiddin to stay in power, given that the prime minister’s slim majority in Parliament is will test when MPs meet to vote on the budget next month.
Umno high council member Puad Zarkashi as well as opposition chairman Parti Amanah Negara Mohamad Sabu called for Muhyiddin’s resignation, although the latter retracted his statement after being admonished for “treason” as Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah had asked politicians not to destabilize the government.
Despite rejecting the emergency request, on Sunday the Palace praised the Muhyiddin administration’s handling of the pandemic and berated the “irresponsible acts” that have undermined the government.
Some opposition figures, especially those of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), the largest party in Parliament, have welcomed the call to ensure that the 2021 Budget is passed by offering to negotiate the supply bill with the government. in exchange for your support.
This comes amid growing uncertainty over whether Muhyiddin still controls Parliament after repeated claims to the contrary from rivals such as opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and Umno’s advisory council chief Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.
An emergency would have allowed Parliament to be suspended before the crucial vote on the 2021 Budget next month.
If government spending is not approved, it will collapse and possibly trigger early polls.
A national election amid a worsening coronavirus outbreak could trigger even more Covid-19 infections.
Muhyiddin had also met with close allies and advisers late Sunday at his residence, amid rumors that he had considered resigning over royal rejection.
Sultan Abdullah had made the decision after consulting with other state monarchs on Sunday afternoon, and the Ruling Council later declared that it was the king’s duty to “limit any element of abuse of power.”
Critics said Muhyiddin was using the pandemic as an excuse to stay in power.
Muhyiddin said Monday’s cabinet will discuss the King’s decree in detail.
Another meeting with top state ministers scheduled for Monday was canceled.
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