The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah decided to postpone the audience granted over the next two weeks, including to political leaders, due to Covid-19-related restrictions.
Reuters quoted Comptroller of the Royal Household of Istana Negara Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin as stating this was due to the conditional movement control order (MCO) imposed in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.
He added that new dates would be decided after the conditional MCO ends on Oct 27.
Sultan Abdullah was scheduled to meet party leaders following opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's audience yesterday, where the latter submitted documentation to His Majesty to show he has the majority support of MPs to form a new government.
Subsequently, at a press conference, Anwar claimed he has the support of more than 120 MPs and reiterated that Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's reign had ended.
He also appealed to all quarters to give the Agong time to resolve the matter.
Following this, the palace issued a statement that Anwar did not present the names of the lawmakers who backed him during the 25-minute audience at Istana Negara.
The statement also said the Agong had advised the PKR president to abide by and respect the legal process.
Hours after Anwar's audience, veteran Umno leader Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah met the Agong, which set tongues wagging.
However, political pundits believe this was also related to the latest political struggle.
Last night witnessed another twist after Umno revealed that it’s mulling withdrawing its support for the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government, which is clinging to power with a two-seat majority.
Previously, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi revealed that many of his party MPs are supporting Anwar.
Earlier today, Malaysiakini reported that the audience granted to DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu had been postponed.
Lim was summoned for an audience today whereas Mohamad was scheduled to meet the king on Oct 21.
His Majesty was also slated to meet MIC president SA Vigneswaran today and Zahid tomorrow.
This is the second political crisis confronting Sultan Abdullah following his coronation as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong in January 2019.
In February this year, His Majesty had to interview all 222 MPs following the resignation of Dr Mahathir Mohamad as prime minister and the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government.
He subsequently appointed Muhyiddin as prime minister after the latter forged the PN alliance comprising Bersatu, Umno-BN, PAS, GPS and others. - Mkini
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