Malaysian Politics – An Eventful Leap Year
In less than a week after the fall of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government, Malaysia begins anew under the leadership of its 8th appointed Prime Minister Tan Seri Muhyiddin Yassin and the new Perikatan Nasional coalition.
TRP brings you the quick and important deets from what happened over the tremendously long weekend during the country’s most controversial political drama.
Sunday – Mar 1, 2020
11:55pm – Former PKR deputy president Azmin Ali says that the new government under the leadership of Muhyiddin Yassin is committed to the people, prosperity and reforms. [Malay Mail]
(Credit: The Straits Times)
10:07pm – Dr Mahathir points the finger at Muhyiddin Yassin and PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for the nation’s recent political drama. [Malay Mail]
7:55pm – Fake news announcing a public holiday to take place on Monday, March 2, goes viral. [Berita Harian]
(Credit: Facebook/Sebenarnya)
5:50pm – Former PKR members aligned with Azmin Ali (Azmin’s Eleven) were heckled by a crowd of angry PKR supporters outside the party’s headquarters in Petaling Jaya. [Malaysiakini]
(Credit: Miera Zulyana/Malay Mail)
5:00pm – PH to pursue police report against Muhyiddin Yassin for allegedly distorting the level of majority support he has to the Royal Institution. [Malay Mail]
4:31pm – Police announced that the organiser of the public protest in Dataran Merdeka on Saturday night, local activist and lawyer Fadiah Nadwa Fikri, was being investigated for sedition and the improper use of network facilities. [Malay Mail]
3:34pm – Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof to be in contact with Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on deciding whether to continue or postpone the Dewan Rakyat sessions on March 9. [The Sun]
1:26pm – PH declared that the coalition has the support of 112 Members of Parliament (MPs). [Malay Mail]
12:44pm – Police are investigating a public rally that occurred at the Sogo mall in KL on Sunday. Among those attending were human rights activists Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir and Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan. [Free Malaysia Today]
(Credit: Azmeal Ishak/Malaysiakini)
12:12pm – MPs in support of Dr Mahahir gathered in solidarity against the appointment of Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister. [Malay Mail]
Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s wife, Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, hugs him after his press conference at Yayasan Al-Bukhary this morning. He was seen playfully rejecting her advances. pic.twitter.com/ZRmjTl5N87
— TheMalaysianInsight (@msianinsight) March 1, 2020
12:04pm – PAS Mursyidul Am Datuk Hashim Jasin mentioned that the nation should call for new elections if there are still doubts on Muhyiddin Yassin’s appointment as prime minister. [Malay Mail]
10:49am – MuhyidÂdin Yassin officially sworn in as the 8th prime minister of Malaysia by the YDPA at Istana Negara. [Malay Mail]
(Credit: Berita Harian)
10:13am – PH to call for an urgent Parliament seating to prove that Dr Mahathir has the majority support of MPs in the Dewan Rakyat. [Malay Mail]
10:06am – Former Interim Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad revealed that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (YDPA) Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, refused to grant him an audience to present his list of support for the prime minister’s position. [Malay Mail]
9:47am – Police apprehended a 35-year-old man who allegedly insulted the YDPA on social media. The case is being investigated under Section 4(1)(a) of the Sedition Act 1948 and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. [Malay Mail]
9:00am – Dr Mahathir felt that he was betrayed by Muhyiddin Yassin and is dedicated to proving that he has the majority support. [Al Jazeera]
8:22am – The Perikatan Nasional government would not interfere in the judicial proceedings of some of its high-ranking party members. [The Star]
(Credit: The Star)
7:36am – Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa challenged Dr Mahathir’s claim of having the support of 114 MPs and said that the YDPA has full discretion to appoint anyone the King believes has the support of the majority as prime minister. [Malay Mail]
12:24am – Bukit Gantang MP Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal and Sri Aman MP Masir Kujat refutes claims that they are in support of Dr Mahathir. [Malaysiakini]
12:22am – Dr Mahathir declared that he has the support of 115 MPs. [Malaysiakini]
Saturday – Feb 29, 2020
11:45pm – Crowds gathered at Dataran Merdeka protesting the appointment of Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister. [Malay Mail]
11:37pm – Dr Mahathir declared that he has a majority of 114 MPs supporting his candidacy as prime minister and to form a new government. [New Straits Times]
(Credit: The Straits Times/Facebook)
10:55pm – Selangau MP Baru Bian joins the group of MPs declaring their support for Dr Mahathir as prime minister. [Free Malaysia Today]
10:28pm – Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir noted that not all 36 Bersatu MPs support Muhyiddin Yassin candidacy as prime minister. [The Star]
10:28pm – Malaysians take their frustrations on the country’s political drama online with the hashtag #NotMyPM trending on Twitter. [Free Malaysia Today]
(Credit: Twitter/@Simrannns_)
8:45pm – Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) said that it supports Muhyiddin Yassin for the prime minister’s post but clarifies that the party would not be joining the BN-PAS lead Perikatan Nasional coalition. [Malay Mail]
8:16pm – Police urged the public not to get involved in any illegal public protest publicised to take place at Dataran Merdeka on Saturday night. [Harian Metro]
6:40pm – PAS secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan claims that Muhyiddin Yassin’s candidacy as prime minister has the support of 144 MPs. [Free Malaysia Today]
5:40pm – Muhyiddin Yassin requests Malaysians to acknowledge the decision of the Agong in appointing him as Malaysia’s 8th prime minister. [Malay Mail]
4:46pm – The YDPA appoints Muhyiddin Yassin as the country’s 8th prime minister. The Comptroller of the Royal Family and Household Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin said that Muhyiddin likely has the majority of the Dewan Rakyat. [Malaysiakini]
4:28pm – Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) declares support for Dr Mahathir. [New Straits Times]
4:19pm – Warisan and GPS to garner majority support to nominate Dr Mahathir as prime minister. [New Straits Times]
3:59pm – The PH coalition claims that it has consolidated the support of 92 MPs backing Dr Mahathir as the next prime minister. [Malay Mail]
3:40pm – Serian MP Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem officially joins PKR. [Malay Mail]
3:15pm – The United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) declares support for Dr Mahathir as Malaysia’s next prime minister and defend the mandate given by the people to PH. [Malay Mail]
1:34pm – Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) secretary-general Datuk Marzuki Yahya opposes Muhyiddin Yassin’s claim as the party’s chairperson. [Malay Mail]
12:30pm – Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin has assumed the role as the party’s acting chairperson, a position supposedly held by Dr Mahathir. [New Straits Times]
9:43am – Bersatu youth wing (Armada) chief, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman voice support for Interim Prime Minister and Bersatu chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to remain as prime minister. [Malay Mail]
Ini bukan lagi soal parti atau majoriti.
— Syed Saddiq (@SyedSaddiq) February 29, 2020
Ini soal identiti & integriti.
Saya faham pendirian saya tidak akan disenangi oleh segelintir ahli politik. Tetapi ahli politik datang dan pergi. Rakyat Malaysia adalah tuan sebenar negara ini.
Biar mati bermaruah, jangan hidup dijajah. pic.twitter.com/55hgoAuZgP
9:39:am – PH declares full support for Dr Mahathir as its candidate for prime minister. Previously, PH had backed Anwar Ibrahim as its choice for the position. [Malay Mail]
9:15am – Political party leaders were summoned for an audience with the YDPA at the Istana Negara. It’s believed that the Agong is once again seeking nominations for the prime minister’s post following interviews with MPs during the week. [Malay Mail]
Get up to speed on the events that some are calling the “Sheraton Move”, HERE.
Or read up on what went on, on Monday (Feb 24), Tuesday (Feb 25), Wednesday (Feb 26), Thursday (Feb 27), and Friday (Feb 28).
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