PETALING JAYA: After having an audience with the King for almost an hour, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he had pleaded to His Majesty not to extend the Emergency Proclamation beyond Aug 1. Anwar said he highlighted that any extension beyond Aug 1 could only bring adverse effects to the country, especially the economy that has already been battered by the worsening Covid-19 pandemic. “We gave our views that the extension of the Emergency will affect the economy, especially ordinary citizens. “There are other steps that can be taken. There isn’t a need for an Emergency. So we pleaded with Tuanku not to extend the Emergency, ” he told reporters when met outside Gate 2 at Istana Negara on Wednesday (June 9).