Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah

Localised emergencies have been declared in Gerik, Perak and Bugaya, Sabah, which were facing upcoming by-elections, to prevent the risk of Covid-19 transmission.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah had assented to the suggestion of a localised emergency under the provisions of Article 150 (1) of the Federal Constitution.

The Election Commission (EC) had earlier fixed the two by-elections to be held simultaneously on January 16 following the deaths of the seats’ elected representatives.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah has assented to a proclamation of emergency in Batu Sapi, Sabah.  

"With this proclamation, any proceedings for the Batu Sapi by-election will be discontinued to prevent a fourth wave of Covid-19 and a new date will be determined for the by-election.

"Therefore, His Royal Majesty has assented to the proclamation of emergency for P185 Batu Sapi, Sabah, as a proactive measure to curb the Covid-19 outbreak," the Comptroller of the Royal Household, Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin, said in a statement today.

Subsequently, during a live telecast, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin assured that the livelihood of Batu Sapi folks would not be affected following the proclamation of emergency.

The cabinet has agreed to the implementation of an "emergency" to tackle the worsening Covid-19 pandemic situation.

The decision was reached during a special cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in Putrajaya this morning.

Following this, Muhyidddin met the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah for an audience that lasted two hours at Istana Abdulaziz in Kuantan.

The number of Covid-19 patients requiring intensive care has reached 108, matching a record set on April 3.

As of noon today, 660 new Covid-19 cases were reported which is the same number of new infections recorded yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah decided to postpone the audience granted over the next two weeks, including to political leaders, due to Covid-19-related restrictions.

Anwar Ibrahim did not provide the names of the MPs who are supporting him during his audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, according to Istana Negara's comptroller of the royal household Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin.

"During the session, which lasted about 25 minutes, Datuk Seri Anwar presented the total number of members of the Dewan Rakyat who purportedly supported him.

"However, he did not furnish the names of these Dewan Rakyat members to strengthen his claim," he added in a statement this afternoon.

Therefore, he said Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah had advised Anwar to abide by and respect the legal process as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

Anwar Ibrahim revealed he has been granted an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah at Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur next Tuesday.

Expressing gratitude to His Majesty, the opposition leader said he would present documentation of the “strong and convincing” support for him to form the federal government.

Meanwhile, in a separate development, the conditional movement control order (MCO) that will be implemented in Klang effective tomorrow (Oct 9) applies only to the area within the sub-district and not other areas such as Port Klang and Kapar.

Malaysia reported 375 new Covid-19 cases today, of which four were imported cases and the remaining 371 were locally acquired infections.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, in his royal address to Parliament, urged MPs not to drag the country into another round of political uncertainty.

The ruler also urged MPs to set aside their animosity.

Earlier, the Agong noted that the country had undergone a political crisis in late February.

The ruler said he had initially convinced Langkawi MP Dr Mahathir Mohamad not to resign as prime minister but to no avail and eventually accepted his resignation with sadness.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah will forgo his royal emoluments as the country fights to contain the Covid-19 crisis.

His majesty has consented for the government to cease the payment for a period of six months, reported Bernama.

According to the federal expenditure estimate for Budget 2020, RM13.533 million has been allocated for the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong.

Of this, RM7.602 million is for emoluments, RM5.611 million is for services and supply, RM170,000 is for assets and RM150,000 is for fixed payments.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah earlier today went around several areas in the heart of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor to monitor the level of compliance of the movement control order.

According to Istana Negara, the King drove around Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Jalan Sultan Ismail, and areas around KLCC, among others.

Sultan Abdullah said the number of vehicles should be reduced as soon as possible.

"I hope that this can be reduced as soon as possible for the mutual benefit of the people, especially in Kuala Lumpur," he said.

Cabinet members of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's government were sworn in today before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah at Istana Melawati in Putrajaya.

Muhyiddin has 31 ministers, 38 deputy ministers in his cabinet, with four acting as senior ministers.

Yesterday, Muhyiddin said with the four senior ministers, there will be no need to appoint a deputy prime minister for now.

Azmin Ali, who is one is one of the senior ministers, was a key figure behind Pakatan Harapan’s downfall. He led a faction within PKR who eventually left and backed the new Perikatan Nasional pact.

Ten of those who left PKR have either been appointed as ministers or deputy ministers.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah is still unable to determine which MP commands the majority support of the Dewan Rakyat to become the next prime minister.

In a statement this evening, Comptroller of the Royal Household Ahmad Fadli Shamsuddin said the next step for the palace is to reach out to the leaders of political parties and MPs for them to nominate other candidates.

The demise of the 22-month-old government was triggered by Dr Mahathir Mahathir's shock resignation as prime minister and the withdrawal of 37 MPs from Harapan.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah will personally interview all MPs beginning today at Istana Negara.

This is in line with Article 43(2)(a) which states that the Agong shall appoint a member of the Dewan Rakyat as the prime minister who "in his judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the House members".

This was revealed by the comptroller of the royal family and household Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin in a special briefing to the press. 

Ahmad Fadil said that this was likely the first time the ruler has individually interviewed each MP.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah has appointed Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the interim prime minister.

The Agong accepted the prime minister's resignation but decided that he should continue to helm the nation until a new government is formed.

A source told Malaysiakini that the interim prime minister post would be for a maximum of 10 days.

Mereka dipanggil untuk menghadap Yang di-Pertuan Agong di Istana Negara, Selasa ini.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak nafi berlaku kekeliruan tempat duduk yang menyebabkan beliau tidak hadir ke Istiadat Pertabalan Yang di-Pertuan Agong ke-16, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.