Jubilee Post News & Views
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In a first, the Malaysian parliament may vote on a confidence motion for prime minister. Prime minister of Malaysia Muhyiddin Yassin has said he would prove majority when the parliament reconvenes in September.
PM Yassin has been in the past week facing increasing pressure, including that from his allies, to step down. Muhyiddin, came to power in March last year, has governed with a thin majority in the 222-seat parliament.
Malaysia’s embattled Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said Wednesday he will put himself through a vote of confidence when parliament reconvenes in September to prove the legitimacy of his leadership and government.
Since he became prime minister, Muhyiddin has sought to avoid parliamentary votes that his political opponents could use as a proxy to a no-confidence vote against his leadership.
The prime minister has in the past week faced increasing pressure, including from his allies, to step down.
That came after the Malaysian king issued a rare public rebuke of the government’s move to revoke emergency laws without the palace’s approval, as required by the constitution. Malaysia’s king is a constitutional monarch and is revered by the country’s multi-ethnic population.
In a televised address, Muhyiddin said he was informed by the king that eight members of parliament have withdrawn their support for the government.
Muhyiddin claimed he still commanded majority support in parliament, and proposed to prove his legitimacy as the country’s leader through a vote of confidence next month. Muhyiddin said the king has accepted his proposal.
Malaysia has plunged into a political crisis since the sudden resignation of former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in February last year. The latest political tussle has come as the country is battling its worst Covid-19 outbreak.
