Malaysian prime minister resigns

Move deepens leadership crisis

Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and his cabinet resigned after more than 17 months in power, fueling a crisis of leadership in a country beset by a weakened economy and a surge in coronavirus cases.

Mr. Muhyiddin, 74, will stay on as a caretaker prime minister until a successor is named, the palace said in a statement on Monday after he met with the country’s king earlier in the day. The king had accepted his resignation and said a fresh election is not the best option during a pandemic.

Confirmation of the resignations first surfaced on an Instagram story posted by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin. The palace made the official announcement before Mr. Muhyiddin addressed the country, signaling how strained ties had become and marking an end to an administration that has been beset by repeated demands from opposition lawmakers and coalition allies to step down.

“I led the country in a state of unprecedented health and economic crises. At the same time I continued to face political threats,” Mr. Muhyiddin said on national television, striking a defiant tone. “I will never conspire with kleptocratic groups, interfere with the independence of the judiciary nor turn my back onthe Federal Constitution simply to stay in power.”

Mr. Muhyiddin has resisted calls to step down since taking office in March 2020. He announced on Aug. 4 that he would finally hold a confidence vote in parliament next month, and last week he appealed on national television to opposition lawmakers to support a slew of reforms before he calls a general election by July 2022 — a proposal that was quickly rejected.

Under constitutional law, any lawmaker who can command a majority in parliament can stake a claim to form the government, and the king needs to give his assent to formalize the appointment.