Zahid said Muhyiddin should not assume that the Umno-led Melaka and Johor state governments would follow the example set by the former prime minister when he declared an emergency amid the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021.

“(Muhyiddin) shouldn’t think that others would emulate what he did in the past,” he said, according to Bernama.

In October 2020, then prime minister Muhyiddin advised the then king to declare an emergency under Article 150 after the Cabinet agreed on the matter at a special meeting.

Two days later, after a special meeting among the rulers, the king decided that an emergency proclamation for the entire country or certain parts was unnecessary.

However, an emergency was finally declared by the king on the advice of Muhyiddin in January 2021.

Pakatan Harapan and other quarters had criticised the move, claiming it was to keep Parliament suspended.

Last week, Umno Supreme Council member Ahmad Maslan proposed delaying the Melaka and Johor state elections in light of the Middle East conflict and its impact on the cost of living.

This was backed by Melaka DAP chief Khoo Poay Tiong, who said declaring an emergency to delay the state polls was one of several approaches that could be considered.

Yesterday, Muhyiddin said these calls to postpone the state polls were likely driven by fear of losing.

He claimed that the public was dissatisfied with the government over issues like the surge in fuel prices and the rising cost of living.