Mahathir’s resignation brings back old all-Malay regime in Malaysia’s power shift
>>KUALA LUMPUR: Mahathir Mohamad failed in his bid to return to power in Malaysia, as the king approved a government dominated by Malaymajority parties in a monumental shift from the multiracial coalition that took power after a shocking election win two years ago.
Muhyiddin Yassin, 72, was named prime minister yesterday by the country’s monarch to end a six-day tussle for power after Mahathir suddenly resigned on Monday due to bickering in his former coalition. The new ruling alliance consists of defectors like Muhyiddin who aligned with the Barisan Nasional coalition that lost power in 2018 after running the country for six decades.
“I only hope that all Malaysians welcome the decision that has been announced by the palace today,” Muhyiddin, who was home minister in the previous government, told reporters outside his home.
Mahathir had no immediate statement, but his Pakatan Harapan coalition planned to meet at 9pm and give a statement to the press afterward.
>>KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s Mahathir Mohamad lost a power struggle yesterday with a little-known ex-interior minister to be the country’s new prime minister in a shock twist that will return a scandal-plagued party to power.
Muhyiddin Yassin will be sworn in today, royal officials said, after a week of turmoil that followed the collapse of a reformist government and Dr Mahathir’s resignation as premier.
“The process to appoint the prime minister cannot be delayed because the country needs a government for the well-being of the people and the nation,” a palace statement said. The king appoints the premier, and rival candidates had this week been seeking to show they commanded majority support from MPs.
As well as ending the premiership of Dr Mahathir, at 94 the world’s oldest leader, it means there will be little hope of his designated successor Anwar Ibrahim becoming prime minister.
Mr Muhyiddin’s coalition is dominated by the multi-ethnic country’s Muslim majority, and includes the
United Malays National Organisation (Umno), the scandal-plagued party of disgraced ex-leader Najib Razak.
Umno was the lynchpin of a long-ruling coalition toppled from power at historic elections in 2018 amid allegations Mr Najib and his cronies looted state fund 1MDB.
Mr Muhyiddin, a former Dr Mahathir ally, had joined forces with Umno in a bid to win power. His coalition also includes a hardline Muslim party that is pushing for Islamic laws.
The current crisis began when Dr Mahathir and Mr Anwar’s ruling “Pact of Hope” alliance, which stormed to a victory two years ago against Mr Najib’s government, collapsed a week ago.
A group of ruling coalition lawmakers had joined forces with opposition parties in a bid to form a new government without Mr Anwar and stop him becoming premier.
After that effort failed, Dr Mahathir and Mr Anwar launched rival bids to win power, reviving a rivalry that has shaped politics for more than two decades in the Southeast Asian nation.
But as Mr Muhyiddin’s bid quickly gained support and it became clear that he could get into power with Umno, Dr Mahathir and Mr Anwar did a volte-face and joined forces again yesterday.
The remaining parties from the “Pact of Hope” alliance threw their support behind Mahathir to become premier, and there had been hopes he could stop Muhyiddin.
The “Pact of Hope”, a ragtag band of opposition that included a party dominated by the country’s ethnic Chinese minority, Mr Anwar’s People’s Justice Party and Dr Mahathir’s Malay-dominated outfit, was uneasy from the start.
Dr Mahathir had pledged to eventually hand the premiership to Anwar, but many were sceptical he wanted to give power to his old rival, and rival factions were seeking to push Mr Anwar out.
Mr Muhyiddin, 72, was a member of Umno for many decades and held a string of senior posts. He was also the deputy prime minister in Mr Najib’s government, however, Mr Najib sacked him after he voiced criticism of the 1MDB scandal.