Don’t panic, Agong tells people

Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah has urged the people to stay calm as he consults with fellow rulers on recommendations by the government on the next phase of fighting Covid-19.

“The people are advised not to make speculations that could create confusion and anxiety and disrupt the harmony that we have cherished together,” Comptroller of the Royal Family and Household Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin said in a statement this morning.

He added that the Agong was aware of the need for continuity of administration in the battle against Covid-19.

This follows an audience granted to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and key ministers with the Agong yesterday, after a special Cabinet meeting.

It is learnt that the meeting had discussed the imposition of a state of emergency which could see a suspension of Parliament, with daily activities allowed to continue.

This comes amid speculation that any move to derail the passing of the budget next month could lead to snap polls, which health officials warn could further increase the spread of Covid-19.

Yesterday, the death toll rose to 214, with one-third of the fatalities reported in the first three weeks of this month.