S. Mahfuz/BenarNews
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim urged the king Wednesday not to extend a coronavirus emergency, as the monarch began a series of meetings with leaders from across the political spectrum to discuss the COVID-19 crisis amid public frustration over it.
King Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah told Anwar he had to listen to the prime minister in deciding whether to extend a national emergency – which the monarch had declared in mid-January – beyond its Aug. 1 expiry date, Anwar conveyed to reporters afterwards.
“I gave my view that continuing the emergency will cause losses to the country, and the current situation with COVID-19 will adversely affect the economy especially to the commoners, and how I see that all the steps that can be implemented do not need for an emergency to be in place,” Anwar, said upon emerging from the National Palace.