Malaysia’s political crisis: calls to replace PM Muhyiddin with Anwar as no-confidence vote looms

The Pakatan Harapan alliance urges lawmakers opposed to Prime Minister Muhiyddin to back Anwar Ibrahim as the next prime minister ahead of a September 7 floor test

With no other MP commanding majority legislative support for now, Muhyiddin reportedly plans to call a snap election if he is defeated in the no-confidence vote

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Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin faces a no-confidence vote. Photo: AP

Published: 2:19pm, 13 Aug 2021Updated: 9:36am, 17 Aug 2021

Malaysia’s biggest opposition faction has urged rival groups opposing Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to back Anwar Ibrahim as the country’s next leader instead of allowing the embattled ruling alliance to trigger fresh elections.

The latest call by Pakatan Harapan for anti-Muhyiddin lawmakers to back 74-year-old Anwar – the three-party bloc’s leader – comes amid reports that the prime minister plans to call for a dissolution of parliament if he is defeated in an upcoming vote of no confidence.

The country is currently in the throes of a Covid-19 outbreak that is on a worse trajectory than India’s devastating surge in May.

Much of the government’s attention this week, however, has been on clinging to power after recent defections from its ally, the powerful United Malays National Organisation (Umno).

The crossovers – and pressure from the country’s constitutional monarch – have compelled Muhyiddin to at long last allow a parliamentary no-confidence vote against him on September 7, after blocking such a move for months.