KUALA LUMPUR – The Prime Minister’s Office requested that all state leaders attend a meeting in Putrajaya while the Conference of Rulers was deliberating a proposal to put the country under emergency rule, people familiar with the matter told The Vibes.
This caused the earlier news, that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has agreed to declare an emergency, to spread like wildfire.
It is understood that before or during the Malay rulers’ meeting, Malaysia’s nine menteris besar and four chief ministers received a text or note to show up at Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s office at 9am tomorrow.
They were not briefed on the specifics of the meet, said a source.
“And because this happened while the rulers were deliberating emergency rule, it led to an assumption that the prime minister wanted to discuss the terms and conditions under emergency law.”
The Conference of Rulers meeting began at 2.30pm and ended about 5pm. By 4pm, the offices of the menteris besar and chief ministers were already contacted about tomorrow’s meet with Muhyiddin.
It is understood that the meeting has been cancelled.
The Agong has dismissed the need to declare an emergency at this time, whether for the whole or parts of Malaysia, according to a statement by Istana Negara this evening.
The king acknowledged that Muhyiddin presented the option of an emergency declaration on Friday, but said the move is unnecessary after consulting with the Malay rulers.
He then stressed the importance of Budget 2021, slated for tabling in the first week of November, especially in the fight against Covid-19 and efforts to revive the economy.
“Financial allocation for frontliners, to allow them to carry out their responsibilities, is much needed.”
He also reminded politicians to “immediately cease all politicking” and prioritise the government’s stability.
It is believed that Muhyiddin, who has a razor-thin majority in the Dewan Rakyat, is pushing for harsh measures as a means to stave off a budget bill defeat, which would automatically translate to a vote of no confidence and the collapse of his government. – The Vibes, October 25, 2020
