Malaysian politics: Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin says he will prove he holds majority in parliament

Muhyiddin pledges to allow a parliamentary vote proving he retains majority legislative support after meeting the king on Wednesday morning

The prime minister came to office in March 2020 after a political coup against the ruling Pakatan Harapan alliance, which Mahathir Mohamad led to power in 2018 election

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Muhyiddin Yassin after being appointed Malaysian prime minister in March 2020. Photo: TNS

Published: 1:00pm, 4 Aug 2021Updated: 9:58pm, 4 Aug 2021

Malaysia’s embattled Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, under intense pressure to resign, on Wednesday insisted he retained the support of a majority of lawmakers and said he would accede to a no-confidence vote in parliament when the legislature next sits in September.

Muhyiddin, 74, made the announcement during a televised address shortly after an audience with the country’s constitutional monarch, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.

Lawmakers opposed to Muhyiddin’s government said in a joint statement that it was unacceptable for him to remain in power until September without proving his parliamentary majority, and proposed a no-confidence vote no later than next Monday.

“I will determine my legitimacy in parliament during the September Dewan Rakyat sitting,” Muhyiddin said, referring to the 222-seat lower house of parliament. He said he had obtained statutory declarations from lawmakers “that convince me that I still have the confidence of the majority”.

There are currently 220 members of parliament, which means Muhyiddin needs to prove he has the backing of 111 MPs.

“His majesty, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, has accepted my suggestion to determine my legitimacy in parliament. As such, the administration of the current government will continue,” Muhyiddin said, flanked by key ministers including his no 2, Ismail Sabri.

Opposition lawmakers have repeatedly called for a no-confidence vote to prove the prime minister’s Perikatan Nasional bloc does not have a parliamentary majority, but Muhyiddin has until now resisted those calls.