A message to editors late this evening said that the media conference, scheduled for 3pm at his residence, had been called off for unavoidable reasons.

Earlier in the day, health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah was quoted as saying that no gatherings could be held, even with limited numbers, during the national lockdown period.

“He has to get a police permit,” Noor Hisham said, according to MalaysiaNow, which said only 10 people had been allowed to attend the press conference.

The subject of the press conference was not stated but it would have been held on the eve of an emergency meeting of the Malay Rulers, convened by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to discuss the handling of the Covid-19 crisis and other matters.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong has also consulted leaders of all political parties over the past week, including Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who has proposed that the reins of government be placed in the hands of a council of non-politicians headed by himself.

The proposal has been criticised and rejected by various political leaders for being undemocratic.