On Friday, Malaysia’s king appointed Ismail Sabri Yaakob as the prime minister, replacing Muhyiddin Yassin, who stepped down this week after losing his parliamentary majority.
The veteran politician was named Malaysia’s new leader aftr the previous government collapsed. Ismail Sabri received the backing of a majority of lawmakers.
Ismail Sabri, who was Muhyiddin’s deputy, takes over as the Southeast Asian nation grapples with a surge in COVID-19 infections and an economic slump, amid growing public anger over the handling of the health crisis.
Islaim Sabri’s appointment means the longest-governing party, the United Malays National Organization has reclaimed the premiership it lost in a shock 2018 election defeat.
He secured majority support, with the backing of 114 of parliament’s 222 members, the palace said in a statement.
His appointment returns the role of prime minister to the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), Malaysia’s ‘grandold party’, which was voted out in a 2018 general election amid widespread accusations of graft.
