Malaysian leader to hold power amid feud arkansasonline.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from arkansasonline.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Handout from the Saudi Royal Palace via AFP
The largest party in Malaysia’s ruling bloc announced early Thursday that it was pulling its support for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and calling on him to resign, saying his unelected government had mishandled the coronavirus pandemic and failed to uphold democratic principles.
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, president of the United Malays National Organization, made the stunning announcement that signaled the coalition’s apparent collapse following a four-hour meeting by UMNO’s supreme council that began Wednesday night. Hours earlier, Muhyiddin had promoted two ministers from UMNO, but his move failed to mollify the party, which had propped up his government since March 2020.
Largest party in Malaysia ruling alliance pulls support for PM Muhyiddin Yassin Associated Press
The largest party in Malaysia s ruling alliance said Thursday that it will withdraw support for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin immediately and urged him to make way for a new leader.
The announcement is a political bombshell that could potentially trigger the collapse of the government if he refuses to quit and spark a general election.
Muhyiddin took power in March 2020 after initiating the downfall of the former reformist government that won the 2018 elections. His Bersatu party joined with the United Malays National Organization, or UMNO, which was ousted in the 2018 polls, and others to form a new government, but his alliance has a razor-thin majority in Parliament.
ADUN SPEAKS | A serious political drama is unfolding in our country
A
ADUN SPEAKS | The political drama that is unfolding is not going to benefit the rakyat.
Something serious is unfolding in Malaysia and it could have major repercussions on the ability of the PN government to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.
This is none other than the continuing tussle between Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and the attempt by Umno headed by Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to unseat the government.
The continuing drama has taken a new dimension, with the recent appointments of Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob as the deputy prime minister and Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein as the senior minister in the cabinet.
Malaysia s top lawyer: PM still in power after ally quits
EILEEN NG, Associated Press
FacebookTwitterEmail 3
1of3In this Wednesday, May 11, 2020, photo, Malaysia s Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, right, and Defense Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob attend a press conference in the Prime Minister s office in Putrajaya, Malaysia. Muhyiddin has appointed Ismail as his deputy, in a calculated bid to dissuade the party from withdrawing support for his leadership.Vincent Thian/APShow MoreShow Less
2of3In this picture taken Wednesday, May 11, 2020, Malaysia s Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, right, and Defense Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob attend a press conference in the Prime Minister s office in Putrajaya, Malaysia. Muhyiddin has appointed Ismail as his deputy, in a calculated bid to dissuade the party from withdrawing support for his leadership.Vincent Thian/APShow MoreShow Less