KUALA LUMPUR (MALAYSIA) – According to two sources, Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin will on Friday ask the king to declare a state of emergency.
The proposed emergency would include dispelling of parliament, which was scheduled to reconvene in November, one of the them said.
The sources, who on condition of anonymity said they did not identify the reason for the premier’s request.
Muhyiddin is facing a challenge in leadership from opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who had said last month that he had majority support in parliament to form a new government.
Under the constitution, the king can declare a state of emergency if there is a sufficient threat to national security, economy or public order.
Malaysia last declared a national emergency in 1969 after civil unrest and race riots.
State news agency Bernama said Muhyiddin was in a meeting with King Al-Sultan Abdullah.
Muhyiddin’s office and the palace have not commented on the same yet.