KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia's king, in an unusual development, summoned all political party leaders this week to private audiences, giving them an opportunity to have their say on the COVID-19 crisis and the controversial state of emergency that expires in seven weeks.
Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim were among those invited to see King Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin, amid rampant speculation that current Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin may be eyeing an emergency extension beyond Aug. 1.