Former Malaysian deputy prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob looked set to form the next government after gaining a parliamentary majority from the same coalition that collapsed earlier this week, media said on Thursday.
Muhyiddin Yassin resigned as prime minister on Monday after conceding he had lost support from his alliance, bringing to an end a fraught 17-month term in office and throwing the country into further political chaos amid a COVID-19 surge and economic slump.
If confirmed, Ismail Sabri’s appointment would mark the return of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party to leadership, three years after its defeat in a general election.
UMNO, which governed the country for over 60 years before that, was part of Muhyiddin’s coalition but balked at playing second fiddle. Two governments that came after the polls proved to be fragile and short-lived.
Ismail Sabri secured majority support with 114 lawmakers out of the 222-seat parliament backing him, The Star and other media reported.
King Al-Sultan Abdullah, the constitutional monarch, wants any new prime minister to face a parliamentary confidence vote to demonstrate that they have a majority of support.
Lawmakers supporting Ismail Sabri were asked to meet the king on Thursday to verify their support, UMNO lawmaker Ahmad Maslan said on Twitter on Thursday.
They include lawmakers from the same political parties that were in Muhyiddin’s coalition, he said.
Members of the media stand outside the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Monday, as Malaysia’s embattled Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was expected to quit after just 17 months in office. Photo: AFP
