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Malaysia
This Week in AsiaPolitics

Malaysian king chooses Muhyiddin Yassin over Mahathir to be prime minister

  • The king’s decision dramatically upended expectations that Mahathir Mohamad would keep his position as prime minister
  • Malaysia’s week-long political impasse began last Sunday when lawmakers met to ostensibly push a political coup, resulting in Mahathir’s resignation

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Muhyiddin Yassin waves to media after outside his house in Kuala Lumpur after he being appointed as the new Malaysian prime minister on Saturday. Photo: AP
Tashny Sukumaran
Malaysia’s king on Saturday appointed Malay nationalist leader Muhyiddin Yassin as the country’s new prime minister, dramatically upending expectations that the 94-year-old elder statesman Mahathir Mohamad would keep his job after cobbling together support at the eleventh hour following a fraught five days of leaderless turmoil and frantic horse-trading in the country.

In a statement, the palace said Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah had conducted interviews with all MPs last week and found that 72-year-old Muhyiddin – a top member of Mahathir’s Bersatu party – had the confidence of a majority of lawmakers, and hence was to be given the chance to form the next government.

He will be sworn in on Sunday.

Malaysia's next prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin and his family wave to the press outside his home in Kuala Lumpur on February 29. Photo: AFP
Malaysia's next prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin and his family wave to the press outside his home in Kuala Lumpur on February 29. Photo: AFP

Speaking to the media after the news broke, Muhyiddin asked Malaysians to accept the king’s choice.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the king and to those who gave me moral support. I am grateful for the gift Allah has given me. I only ask that the people accept the decision made by the palace today,” he said.

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