Kuala Lumpur, November 21 (BNA): Former Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin won the support of two political blocs as part of his quest to form a new government after general elections that resulted in a hung parliament, but he has not yet won the required majority.
Mohiuddin, of the Brikatan National Alliance, said it had the support of two regional blocs based on Borneo island. This would boost the number of his coalition’s seats from 73 to 101 – still short of the required majority of 112.
I am confident that I will have sufficient support from the legislators to enable me to be appointed by the King as prime minister,” without specifying the other parties that might support him.
Longtime opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, whose Pakatan Harapan coalition won the most seats in Saturday’s elections with 82, is also racing to win endorsement from other groups, reports Reuters.
The inconclusive election saw Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yacoub’s Barisan National Alliance suffer its worst ever electoral defeat, winning only 30 of the 178 seats it ran for.
And it prolongs political uncertainty in the Southeast Asian country, which has seen three prime ministers in as many years, at a time of slowing economic growth and rising inflation.
The instability reflects a shift in a country that has been one of the most stable for decades in a region that has had its share of military coups, violent political upheaval and rebellions.
Gabungan Party Sarawak, one of the Borneo regional blocs, said it was ready to work with Muhyiddin and the existing Barisan alliance to form a government.
Forming a government would require the participation of the King of Malaysia, whose largely ceremonial role includes the power to appoint a legislator who he believes will command a majority as prime minister.
A record number of Malaysians voted on Saturday, rejecting Ismail’s multi-ethnic Barisan coalition, led by the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) that has long been the country’s dominant political force.
Mahathir Mohamad, 97, Malaysia’s longest-serving prime minister, suffered his first electoral defeat in 53 years, losing his seat to the Brekatan alliance.
Muhyiddin became prime minister in 2020, but his administration collapsed last year, paving the way for Barisan’s return to power with Ismail at the helm.
If Anwar becomes prime minister, it would be a remarkable turnaround for a politician who, in the space of 25 years, has gone from Mahathir’s heir apparent to prisoner and is now a prominent opposition figure.