TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Malaysian PM Muhyiddin to give TV address amid calls to quit

Muhyiddin has been under mounting pressure to quit after Malaysia's king last week issued a rare rebuke of a government move to revoke emergency laws without his approval, an act the palace said ran counter to the constitution.

Reuters
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Wed, August 4, 2021

Share This Article

Change Size

Malaysian PM Muhyiddin to give TV address amid calls to quit Malaysia's Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin smiles during a session of the lower house of parliament, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia July 13, 2020. (Reuters/Lim Huey Teng)

M

alaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin will address the nation at 1230 local time (0430 GMT), he said in a social media post, after a key ally withdrew support for the government and after calls for him to step down.

Muhyiddin has been under mounting pressure to quit after Malaysia's king last week issued a rare rebuke of a government move to revoke emergency laws without his approval, an act the palace said ran counter to the constitution.

Some allies have accused Muhyiddin of treason, while opposition lawmakers have urged him to step down for disrespecting the king. Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy and the king is revered across the country's multi-ethnic population

Muhyiddin has governed with a razor-thin majority and led an unstable ruling coalition since coming to power in March 2020.

Read also: UMNO withdraws support for Prime Minister Muhyiddin

The United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party, the biggest bloc in Muhyiddin's ruling alliance, on Wednesday again withdrew support for him and said he had lost legitimacy to govern.

The party is split over its support for Muhyiddin, however. Last month, UMNO said it had pulled its support for Muhyiddin but its cabinet ministers did not quit.

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.