UMNO President Ahmed Zahid Hamidi has withdrawn support to Prime Minister Mohiuddin Yassin.
Prime Minister Mohiuddin Yasin (AFP)
The largest party in Malaysia’s ruling coalition said on Thursday that it would immediately withdraw support to the country’s Prime Minister Mohiuddin Yassin. He urged Yasin to make way for the new leader. This announcement has created a stir in the country’s politics, due to which there may be a situation for general elections and if Yasin refuses to leave his post, it is likely to lead to the fall of the government led by him.
Mohiuddin Yasin took power in March 2020. At that time he left the former ruling coalition and joined hands with the United Malays National Organization or UMNO and other parties to form a new government. UMNO President Ahmed Zahid Hamidi said that Yasin’s government failed to contain the coronavirus pandemic, which led to an economic crisis. He urged Yasin to resign.
Mohiuddin made UMNO MP his deputy
Zahid urged Mohiuddin to resign and make way for a new leader until the pandemic eases so that general elections can be held safely. “It is important to allow a government that is truly stable and has the mandate of the majority of the people,” he said. This decision of UMNO has come at a time when Mohiuddin has made UMNO MP as his deputy. This decision of Mohiuddin was a well-planned ploy to persuade the party to continue in the alliance. Tensions have been brewing in the ruling coalition for months.
Defense Minister made Deputy Prime Minister
The Prime Minister’s Office named Defense Minister Ismail Sabri as deputy prime minister and said he would still retain his security post. It said the appointment would help Mohiuddin manage the country amid health and economic woes. Mohiuddin broke tradition last year by not appointing a deputy prime minister in his cabinet, but instead nominating four senior ministers, two from his own party and Ismail UMNO.
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