Coronavirus: as Muhyiddin extends Malaysia’s partial lockdown, opposition seeks to topple him
- Gatherings of up to 20 people are permitted as Malaysia’s restrictions are slowly eased, although interstate travel is still banned
- Muhyiddin’s virus fight comes amid rising pressure by the Pakatan Harapan coalition, which has accused his government of coming to power through political trickery
“Even though we have achieved many positive developments in our efforts to tackle the Covid-19 outbreak, we are not out of the woods yet,” Muhyiddin said in a televised address, adding that while interstate travel was still banned, visiting family or neighbours in the same state would be permitted within certain restrictions.
Gatherings of up to 20 people were also among the new relaxed measures.
The leader extended the lockdown as pressure mounted from a re-energised Pakatan Harapan opposition force that pledged to “return the mandate of the people”, arguing that Muhyiddin’s Perikatan Nasional coalition came to power through political trickery.
“The fighting spirit still burns in the souls of young people who dream of reform. The time has come for us to rise up once more and continue to return the mandate of the people to the right alliance,” the pair said, referring to the 2018 general election which saw voters dethrone the United Malays National Organisation-led coalition which had enjoyed over six decades of uninterrupted rule.
Mahathir and Anwar have long nursed a bitter relationship, with friction beginning during Mahathir’s first round as prime minister – from 1981 to 2003 – when Anwar was sacked as deputy prime minister and charged with corruption and sodomy.