Kuala Lumpur: The largest party in Malaysia's ruling alliance said on 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 elections, and others to form a new government, but his alliance has a razor-thin majority in Parliament.
Read: Mahathir seeks Parliamentary vote as new Malaysian PM sworn-in
UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Muhyiddin's government has failed to curb the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, he said its inconsistent policies and half-baked lockdown measures have deepened the economic hardship.
Zahid urged Muhyiddin to resign and make way for a temporary leader to take over until the pandemic eases and a general election can be held safely.
This is important to allow a government that is truly stable and has the mandate of the majority of the people to be formed, he said in a statement.
UMNO's decision came just hours after Muhyiddin named an UMNO lawmaker as his deputy, in what is seen as a calculated bid to persuade the party to stay on. Tensions have been brewing for months in the ruling alliance, with UMNO unhappy at playing second fiddle to Bersatu.
Read: Malaysian PM’s key ally demands early polls in new snag
The prime minister's office named Defense Minister Ismail Sabri as the deputy premier and said he also would retain his security post. It said the appointment would help Muhyiddin manage the country amid health and economic crises.
Muhyiddin had broke with tradition by not appointing a deputy premier to his Cabinet last year but named four senior ministers instead, two of which are from his own party and Ismail from UMNO.
AP
