Southeast Asian Crisis: Malaysia’s Government Resigns

The Malaysian government has submitted its resignation to the king. Another crisis for the country, which is already struggling with the worsening corona situation and economic problems.

The majority with which Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had held power for months was a razor thin. But today he and his ministers were at the Royal Palace of Malaysia to submit the resignation of the government. King Al-Sultan Abdullah accepted, but instructed the resigned prime minister to head a transitional government.

There has been unrest in the government for months

Muhyiddin had decided to resign after 17 months as prime minister because he had lost the confidence of the parliamentary majority, he said in a televised address. There had been unrest within his governing coalition for months. The prime minister had not let parliament meet since the beginning of the year – ostensibly to protect against Covid 19, but also to give no room for demands for resignation.

Members of other parties renounced their support last week, and it became apparent that a vote of confidence planned for September would not have politically survived Muhyiddin. The resignation of the government plunges Malaysia into further turmoil: the country’s economy is suffering from the pandemic, and Malaysia has the highest infection and death rates per million people in Southeast Asia.

Unclear when new government will be formed

The king has now spoken out against elections during the pandemic. So how and when a new government will be formed is still unclear. Observers suspect that the UMNO party could push its way back to power. The party had ruled the country for nearly sixty years until it was voted out of office in 2018. The then Prime Minister Najib Razak still has to stand trial for corruption, enrichment and money laundering.