PETALING JAYA,Oct 26: Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said tonight that the decision of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to turn down a Cabinet proposal to declare an emergency should serve as a lesson for all.
He said the statement by the King, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, showed that important decisions must be done through a process of consensus, with all relevant parties being participants.
“Thus, there is a need to initiate a national reconciliation on the political, economic, social and security agenda,” Zahid said.
Political leaders should now be sincere and put priority on the people during the Covid-19 pandemic, he said.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, after consulting the Malay Rulers, said there was no need to declare an emergency as the government was managing well in handling the Covid-19 crisis.He also urged MPs to guard against “irresponsible actions which can affect the stability of the government” and emphasised the importance of the 2021 federal budget, which will be tabled on Nov 6.
There had been speculation earlier in the week that MPs might vote against the budget, which would automatically lead to the resignation of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and his Cabinet.
