Muhyiddin is eighth PM, says King

PETALING JAYA: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is the country’s eighth Prime Minister, declared Istana Negara after a heart-pumping week-long race full of twists and turns.

He is to be sworn in at Istana Negara at 10.30am today.

After receiving representations from both sides, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has determined that the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president is “most likely to have received the trust of the majority”, the Istana said in a statement yesterday.

The announcement comes after an intense week of political upheaval over who would be the eighth prime minister.

According to the media statement released by the Comptroller of the Royal Household Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had received a list of names of potential candidates from the political parties with MPs in the Dewan Rakyat.

“Upon getting the representation from all parties, representatives and independent MPs, it is the opinion of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong that the one most likely to have received the trust of the majority of MPs is Muhyiddin, the Pagoh MP.

“In line with that, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong will appoint Muhyiddin as the Prime Minister in accordance with Article 40(2)(a) and Article 43(2)(a) of the Federal Constitution, ” said Ahmad Fadil.

New chapter begins: Muhyiddin and Noorainee meeting supporters after being named the next prime minister.

In the statement, he said the swearing-in of the new Prime Minister would be held on March 1 at 10.30am.

“The Yang di-Pertuan Agong proclaimed that the appointment of the Prime Minister cannot be further delayed as the country needs a government for the well-being of the people and the country that we love.

“His Majesty said this is the best decision for all and hopes the political upheaval can be ended, ” said Ahmad Fadil.

Muhyiddin, who was born in Pagoh on May 15,1947, has a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Malay Studies from Universiti Malaya.

Muhyiddin is married to Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman, 70, and has four children.

He joined Umno in 1971 but was sacked in 2015 for raising questions about the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal in the Cabinet.

He held the Johor mentri besar post for 10 years before being appointed youth and sports minister, domestic trade and consumer affairs minister, agriculture and agro-based industries minister and international trade and industry minister.

He was deputy prime minister during the tenure of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

In 2016, Muhyiddin founded Bersatu and became its president.

Under the Pakatan Harapan government, he was home minister.

The past one week was fraught with intense political manoeuvrings which climaxed with the resignation of prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government.

The political upheaval resulted in an impasse when the parties could not agree to one candidate for the prime minister post.

Muhyiddin came in as the tug of war between Dr Mahathir and his Pakatan Harapan-appointed successor PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim intensified, and both claimed they had the majority.

However, Muhyiddin was thrown in as the third choice and a majority who initially backed Dr Mahathir decided to support him.

Anwar then decided to support Dr Mahathir but allegedly could not get the majority to make the 95-year-old secure the premiership for the third time.