Malaysia's king declares state of emergency to curb spread of Covid-19

KUALA LUMPUR — The Yang di-Pertuan Agong has assented on Tuesday (Jan 12) to declare an emergency in Malaysia until Aug 1, or until the current wave of Covid-19 subsides.

In a statement by Istana Negara, the Comptroller of the Royal Household Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin said the decision was made after Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin called on the Malaysian king on Monday.

The Malaysian king also received briefing from Chief Secretary Mohd Zuki Ali, Attorney General Idrus Harun, Health Director-General Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, Election Commission Chairman Abdul Ghani Salleh, Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador and Chief of Armed Forces Affendi Buang.

The Conference of Rulers were also consulted over the decision.

The Emergency Proclamation was called under Article 150(1) of the Federal Constitution which states that the Malaysian king can call it if he is “satisfied that a grave emergency exists whereby the security, or the economic life, or public order in the Federation or any part thereof is threatened”.

An emergency committee will be formed consisting of government and Opposition MPs and relevant health experts to determine if the emergency will be ended early.

The decree came just a day after Putrajaya announced a new movement control order affecting six states for two weeks starting Wednesday.

Back in October, Mr Muhyiddin had then pleaded for a state of emergency be declared, but the Malaysian king decided that there was no need for one.

The Malaysian king had also then delivered a warning directed at politicians looking to unsettle the country’s administration.

The earlier proposal for emergency last year happened after Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was granted a royal audience with Al-Sultan Abdullah in which the former claimed to have gained the support of “over 120 MPs” to take over the government.

Mr Muhyiddin was appointed as the prime minister in March after Dr Mahathir Mohamad resigned from the position unprompted less than two years into his term.

On Monday, Mr Muhyiddin announced the second bout of MCO in several states, citing the national healthcare system which is near breaking point.

Malaysia on Monday recorded 2,232 new Covid-19 cases with 28,554 active cases.

Out of those, 187 are in the intensive care unit, with 87 needing respiratory support. MALAY MAIL