Led By Mahathir And Anwar, The Malaysian Opposition Demands Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin To Resign

Prime Minister of Malaysia Muhyiddin Yassin. (Twitter/@MuhyiddinYassin)

JAKARTA - Members of the opposition Malaysian Parliament staged a demonstration demanding the resignation of Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and against the closure of parliament.

Citing Reuters on Monday 2 August, opposition members initially marched towards the parliament building but were stopped by police in riot gear. The masses also diverted their action by gathering at Merdeka Square.

Two senior Malaysian politicians, Mahathir Mohamad and Anwar Ibrahim, are in the midst of this. Originally, the Malaysian Parliament would hold its final session today. However, it was canceled due to a case of COVID-19 infection in parliament. The opposition calls this an excuse by the government to avoid a no-confidence motion that could lead to the downfall of PM Muhyiddin Yassin's government.

"Muhyiddin as prime minister has fallen today," opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said in a speech after lawmakers were rejected.

He said all 107 opposition lawmakers were united in demanding the prime minister's resignation for violating the constitution and the king's decree, and preventing lawmakers from carrying out their duties.

"Only in this way can this protracted political turmoil come to an end and focus can be fully put on efforts to resolve the health, economic and social crisis that has been facing the country since 17 months ago," former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said in a statement.

Malaysia has been in a volatile political environment since Mahathir's unexpected resignation last year, followed by Muhyiddin's ascension in March 2020. Muhyiddin had ruled with a slim majority and led an unstable ruling coalition during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin faced calls to step down last week, after Malaysia's king issued a rebuke over the repeal of government regulations issued under emergency rule in effect since January, without the king's approval.

Malaysia's king had asked for the repeal of the ordinance related to handling the pandemic to be debated in parliament, but the government said it was not necessary. Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim also filed a no-confidence motion against Muhyiddin following the king's comments.

With the parliamentary session cancelled, it is not clear whether a vote or regulation will be put forward in parliament. After holding demonstrations and unfurling banners demanding their resignation, the masses then dispersed peacefully.