Advertisement
Muhyiddin Yassin
This Week in AsiaOpinion
Sophie Lemière
Sophie Lemière

Opinion | As ‘pandemic premier’ Muhyiddin survives yet again, what’s next for him – and Malaysia?

  • The prime minister is still the prime minister even after royal rebukes, opposition protests, youth demonstrations and a loss of support
  • While many believe Muhyiddin’s days at the helm are numbered, Mahathir’s reinvention shows political memories are short. Can the current PM do the same?

Reading Time:4 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
1
Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin waves to media as he leaves his residence in Kuala Lumpur on August 3. Photo: EPA
Sophie Lemière
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has scored again. Despite all the excitement in the opposition ranks – including another claim that opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim had the numbers to take over as premier; a youth demonstration; a march by MPs to demand the opening of parliament, after it was suspended again for a Covid-19-related issue; the resignation of a member of Cabinet; and an attempt by the United Malays National Organisation (Umno) to take over – Muhyiddin remains. One more time, the Malaysian political ace has seen off all comers, including the country’s king.
Advertisement
Since March last year, Malaysia seems to have lost its direction. Time has lost meaning for many in the country, who have endured lockdown after lockdown. Uncertainties have become rules and certitudes have become exceptions. In a context of social despair, as well as economic and political crises, Muhyiddin is the prime minister of the pandemic. His government emerged at the same time as Covid-19, and the virus will surely survive his rule. For Muhyiddin, however, there is no such thing as failure. Despite the skyrocketing number of infections in the country, he has crafted a story and a name for himself: the man who survives all crises.

In the past few days – and following the insistence last month of the king, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah – the Malaysian parliament was called for an extraordinary sitting. Amid the shouting and name-calling from the opposition, a bomb was dropped: de facto law minister Takiyuddin Hassan declared that the pandemic-related state of emergency had been lifted five days before parliament convened.

Malaysia’s Federal Reserve Unit block the main road to parliament on August 2. Photo: Bloomberg
Malaysia’s Federal Reserve Unit block the main road to parliament on August 2. Photo: Bloomberg

The early revocation of the emergency annihilated all hope for lawmakers to debate, let alone vote against, any of the ordinances that derived from the extraordinary powers given to Muhyiddin by royal green light in January – and potentially show the prime minister lacked the support of the parliamentary majority he needs to stay in power.

Advertisement

Sultan Abdullah’s response was to issue a statement of disapprobation that the state of emergency had been revoked without his consent. Amid royal protestations and allegations that the government had orchestrated an unconstitutional move, the opposition called for Muhyiddin to resign – leading to an avalanche of political shifts amid calls for a new government. For a few days it seemed as if many were celebrating the demise of the prime minister’s political career, but he has refused to back down.

Advertisement