Malaysia’s ruling Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition has expressed solidarity with PM Muhyiddin Yassin, providing some reprieve for the embattled leader who was facing calls for his resignation after a failed bid to declare a state of emergency in the country.
Various component parties of the country’s ruling political alliance, such as the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS), Sabah-based Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR), and Sabah Progressive Party voiced their “undivided loyalty” to Muhyiddin’s leadership and government, despite their differences. UMNO, which is the largest party in the coalition, said that this support was crucial to help the government focus on its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and to revive the Malaysian economy.
Muhyiddin—whose majority in parliament is hanging by a thread—has been under pressure from unhappy coalition partners demanding more powerful positions, and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who declared earlier this month on October 13 that he had enough support to take over the government. The PM’s proposal last week to impose emergency measures in the country to deal with COVID-19—which would have suspended parliament and let him avoid having its majority tested when the Lower House reconvenes next month—was met with severe resistance as well, as opponents accused the leader of using the pandemic as an excuse to stay in power amid weakened support.
However, even though King Al-Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah ultimately rejected the plan, he offered Muhyiddin’s administration his verbal endorsement, saying that the government had done a good job in managing the coronavirus crisis. He also asked politicians to refrain from taking any actions that could destabilize the leadership during this critical time.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, Senior Minister for Economy, Mr. Azmin Ali, who is also the information chief of the PN coalition, thanked the monarch for his confidence in the administration’s efforts to combat the pandemic and vowed to support general public and frontline workers in their fight against the deadly virus.
Malaysia’s Embattled Prime Minister Muhyiddin Wins Support from Ruling Coalition
The announcement provides some reprieve for the embattled leader who was facing calls for his resignation after a failed bid to declare a state of emergency in the country.
October 28, 2020
SOURCE: AP NEWS