In a statement issued today, the Prime Minister’s Office said the government had taken note of the palace’s views, which were made known yesterday.

It added that Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had informed and advised the King on various issues in his previous royal audiences.

This included the country’s management of the pandemic, enforcement of Emergency Ordinances, implementation of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, economic stimulus packages, parliamentary sessions and national recovery plan.

Yesterday, a statement from the palace said the King was aware of the important role of Parliament in discussing Covid-19 matters, and wanted it to be reconvened as soon as possible.

This was followed by a joint statement by the Malay Rulers that there was no need for the nation to remain under a state of emergency after Aug 1. They also called for state assemblies to reopen.

Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal Syed Danial Syed Ahmad said the Rulers acknowledged the health and economic crises caused by the pandemic, along with the political instability and growing disunity among the people.