⁍ Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin met the king on Friday to ask him to declare a state of emergency.

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⁍ Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim denounced the move as an attempt to cling to power.

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⁍ Malaysia last declared a national emergency after civil unrest and bloody race riots broke out in 1969.

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– Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has asked the king to declare a state of emergency amid a political crisis and a resurgence of coronavirus cases, sources tell Reuters. Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim denounced the move as an attempt to cling to power. If the emergency is declared, parliament will be suspended and the government’s 2021 budget will be approved without a vote. Polls could be held at the end of the emergency, though it’s not clear if or how long it will last. Muhyiddin took office in March with a two-seat majority, but questions have persisted over the stability of his coalition since. Pressure increased last month after Anwar said he had enough support in parliament to form a new government with the help of defectors from the ruling coalition. The government is scheduled to propose its 2021 budget on Nov. 6, and there have been doubts over whether it can muster a majority in parliament for that. Defeat on the budget would count as a vote of no-confidence in Muhyiddin and could trigger an election. Under Muhyiddin’s proposed emergency, parliament will be suspended and the budget will not be put to vote. According to the constitution, the king can essentially introduce laws—called ordinances—during an emergency on the advice of the prime minister and cabinet. The budget could be approved, similarly, without a parliamentary vote. The Edge financial daily cited a source saying the 2021 budget would still be announced under an emergency and a suspension of parliament meant the budget could be approved without a vote.