Malaysian opposition leader scraps plan to step down from party
- The former prime minister told his Bersatu party on Saturday he had changed his mind after his wife urged him to ‘stay another term’
- Muhyiddin heads the wider Malay-majority opposition bloc Perikatan Nasional, which has made significant inroads into the ruling coalition’s majority
The former prime minister told his Bersatu party on Saturday he had changed his mind after his wife urged him to “stay another term” and not disappoint his colleagues. This was after Bersatu’s top leaders on Friday rejected Muhyiddin’s initial decision to relinquish the position.
Muhyiddin heads the wider Malay-majority opposition bloc Perikatan Nasional, which made significant inroads into the ruling coalition’s majority during provincial polls in August, as well as in last year’s nationwide vote.
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His absence from the party leadership could potentially risk weakening opposition to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
“Because of the kind wishes of party members and fellow party leaders, I have decided to offer myself to contest for the party presidency when the time comes,” Muhyiddin said in his speech at the Bersatu annual general meeting om Saturday.
