Malaysia’s king rejects bid for emergency rule

Bloomberg

Malaysia’s king rejected Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s request to declare a state of emergency to tackle the coronavirus crisis, capping a tense weekend that saw opposition leaders criticise the proposal as an attempt by the premier to retain control amid a power struggle.
The government has been handling the pandemic well, the palace said in a statement on Sunday after the monarch’s meeting with the nation’s other royals. The king also asked lawmakers to stop politicking that could affect the stability of the country.
The king’s decision comes just before Muhyiddin is set to have his razor-thin majority tested when the parliament reconvenes early next month to discuss the 2021 budget that’s due on November 6.
Failing to pass the budget is akin to losing a no-confidence vote, analysts say. A state of emergency means the budget would not be put to a vote.
“The only benefit would accrue to the Prime Minister as Parliament would be paralysed,” former PM Mahathir Mohamad wrote in his blog.