Malaysia king meets politicians as discontent rumbles over virus crisis
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[June 09, 2021]
By Joseph Sipalan
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's king
started a series of meetings with leaders of political parties on
Wednesday, amid public discontent over the government's handling of a
coronavirus crisis that has forced the nation into a third lockdown.
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's administration imposed strict COVID-19
measures from June 1-14 to address a surge in infections and deaths, on
top of an ongoing national emergency to curb the spread of the disease.
But those have led to public frustration over a perceived slow rollout
of vaccinations, haphazard policymaking and uneven enforcement of
coronavirus curbs that critics say royalty and elites have been allowed
to skirt.
Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who spent an hour on Wednesday with
King Al-Sultan Abdullah, said the national emergency has done more harm
than good.
"We presented our view that allowing this emergency to continue will
lead to losses to the country," Anwar told reporters.
"It does not help with the handling of COVID and it effects the economy,
especially those in the lower rungs of society."
Muhyiddin was the first to meet with the king on Wednesday, ahead of his
weekly cabinet meeting. Other political leaders are expected at the
palace over the next few days, including ex-premier Mahathir Mohamad.
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Malaysia's King, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah
Shah, inspects an honour guard during the 62nd Merdeka Day
(Independence Day) celebrations in Putrajaya, Malaysia, August 31,
2019. REUTERS/Lim Huey Teng
In a statement, the national palace said the king has
convened a special meeting of the council of rulers on Wednesday to
discuss efforts to battle the epidemic during the emergency.
King Al-Sultan Abdullah heeded Muhyiddin's request in January to
declare a national emergency to curb the spread of COVID-19, a move
the opposition said was an attempt by the premier to shore up his
position amid a power struggle.
With nearly 634,000 cases among its 32 million people, Malaysia has
the highest number of infections per capita in Southeast Asia.
(Reporting by Joseph Sipalan; Editing by Martin Petty)
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