Urged To Resign, Malaysian PM Confesses: Urged To Interfere With Courts, Release Individuals Facing Corruption Accusations

Malaysian PM Muhyiddin Yassin. (Twitter/@501Awani)

JAKARTA - Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has resisted pressure to resign, saying he still maintains majority support in Malaysia's parliament and is ready to prove his claim when parliament convenes again next month.

Quoting Reuters, Muhyiddin said in a televised address that Malaysia's King Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah agreed to remain in power pending a vote of no confidence even though some members of his coalition had withdrawn support.

Accompanied by nine members of the Malaysian Parliament, including Deputy Prime Minister and UMNO politician Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Muhyiddin said there were no questions about his resignation.

"I have informed the king that I have received a number of statements from members of parliament, which assure me that I still have the confidence of the majority of the current parliamentarians," said Muhyiddin Yassin, Wednesday, August 4.

"However, I am aware that my position as Prime Minister continues to be questioned. Therefore, I have informed the King that I will determine my legitimacy as Prime Minister in Parliament," he continued.

Since rising to the post of prime minister in March 2020, Muhyiddin has ruled with a narrow majority. However, Malaysia's influential King helped it survive until now, to avoid political turmoil as Malaysia struggles with a surge in COVID-19 infections and economic downturn from multiple lockdowns.

Pressure on him to step down again erupted last week after Malaysia's king issued a rare rebuke of the government's move to lift the emergency law without his approval. The palace said the revocation was against the constitution.

The United Malays National Organization (UMNO) party, the largest bloc in Muhyiddin's ruling alliance, said it had lost legitimacy after the rebuke and several lawmakers from the party had written to the king withdrawing their support. Meanwhile, the UMNO Party was divided because of its support for Muhyiddin.

Muhyiddin further said that the political turmoil was triggered by certain parties whose demands he rejected, including the release of individuals facing corruption charges.

"This includes encouraging me to interfere in court matters, releasing several people who were tried for criminal acts," said Muhyiddin, although he did not name them. There is no comment from UMNO in this regard.

To note, several UMNO politicians are facing corruption charges, including former prime minister Najib Razak and party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Najib was found guilty last year and sentenced to 12 years in prison in a case linked to the billion-dollar 1MDB scandal. He has denied wrongdoing and has appealed the ruling. Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid is also undergoing a trial in a corruption case. The two were among those who withdrew support for Muhyiddin this week.