A Recap Of The Spiralling Events Leading To The Official Resignation of PM Muhyiddin Yassin

By Quinny Tan  •  in Breaking News
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(image: NST)

Over the weekend, netizens have witnessed their timelines blowing up from the most recent political hoo-haa.

Here’s a recap on what went down:

August 13, Friday

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin proposed a seven-point cross-party framework for bipartisan cooperation that will be implemented by the government following the passing of the vote of confidence.

In this framework, the point that sparked most of the discussion to follow was his third and fourth point:

If the government secures a two-third majority in Parliament, Muhyiddin said a new bill would be proposed to set a two-term limit for the prime minister post, as well as a bill on anti-party hopping laws. He would also bolster parliamentary reforms by ensuring that special select committees have a more balanced representation of government and opposition MPs.

Another point included that the government had agreed to implement the lowering of voting age to 18 (Undi 18) without waiting for the automatic voter registration process, if he manages to secure bipartisan support.

If the proposals for bipartisan cooperation were agreed upon, said Muhyiddin, he would call for a special Dewan Rakyat sitting to table the vote of confidence and determine his legitimacy as the prime minister.

Following this, opposition MPs unfazed by the prime minister’s bait-and-switch reforms, reiterate calls for his resignation.

Opposition MPs have taken to social media to openly reject his offer, claiming further that today’s announcement also goes to show that the Pagoh MP does not have majority support in the Dewan Rakyat.

Meanwhile, Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil took the opportunity to point out that Muhyiddin may have slipped up and indirectly admitted to losing his majority in the Dewan Rakyat.

From the Pejuang side, Jerlun MP Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir likened Muhyiddin’s announcement to bribing the nation.

Additionally, Syed Saddiq then went on to question why Muhyiddin, who delayed Undi18, suddenly announced that voting rights for those aged 18 and above can be implemented immediately.

August 14, Saturday

Rumours sparked regarding the prime minister’s resignation.

Muhyiddin called for an emergency meet with ministers at the Prime Minister’s Office in the evening. Malaysiakini reported that Muhyiddin will see the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at Istana Negara at noon on Monday, with strong speculation that he will tender his resignation.

However, many of his cabinet members have denied this will happen.

Muhyiddin’s framework the previous day was seen to be a last-ditch attempt to remain in power, urging opposition lawmakers to lend him support in Parliament.

Observers and other politicians said the Bersatu president was essentially offering bribes on national television with his seven offers.

(image: The Star)

His former ally Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the besieged Muhyiddin should not usurp the powers of the Agong in determining the appointment of the next prime minister.

Zahid said his party will not consider any offer from someone who has no legitimacy, let alone one who is desperate enough to offer bribes to prolong his political career.

“As an MP who has sworn to preserve and uphold the federal constitution, the Pagoh MP should not usurp the powers of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to decide on the appointment of a prime minister.”

August 15, Sunday

The question of whether Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will step down as Prime Minister will be answered on Monday when the Pagoh member of parliament meets the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

(image: Bernama)

“We just finished the meeting. Tomorrow, there will be a special cabinet meeting. After that, he will head to Istana Negara [National Palace] to submit his resignation,” Redzuan Yusof, a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, told Malaysiakini.

“This is excessive politicking during a pandemic. The actions of these people are regrettable. They should answer to the people of Malaysia for acting distastefully in causing an untimely collapse of a government.”

He was asked if he expects the current constitutional crisis would be a repeat of last year’s Sheraton Move where the country had to begin all over again with a new prime minister, Cabinet and directions, Redzuan did not discount the possibility.

“It looks like it will be the same cycle as before. This is costing too much and it is very unproductive. Looks like we are (starting all over again), at least for a short term before the 15th General Election (GE15),” he told the New Straits Times.

Describing Muhyiddin as someone who is not power hungry, Mohd Redzuan said the prime minister is a principled individual who made efforts to maintain the ruling government for the sake of the country during the pandemic. After the bipartisan co-operation was rejected, Muhyiddin ‘gentlemanly’ offered to resign at the time when he was still in power.

“He is a principled leader, unfortunately not many see that quality in him,” he said.

August 16, Monday

(image: NST)

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin became the country’s shortest ruling prime minister after he officially tendered his resignation today.

The, now former, prime minister arrived outside Istana Negara at 11AM today and handed over his resignation letter after his audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.

Umno minister Khairy Jamaluddin has confirmed the resignation of Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s cabinet via his Instagram page.

“The cabinet has tendered our resignation to the Agong. Thank you for the opportunity to, once again, serve the nation. May God bless Malaysia.”

But it doesn’t end here.

While Malaysians were busy wondering who will succeed him as prime minister, with Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob among the names proposed for a new Umno-led coalition and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan pending to show it commands the majority in Dewan Rakyat, we received yet another PDF announcement.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will stay on as Malaysia’s prime minister in a caretaker capacity. The National Palace said in a statement that Mr Muhyiddin will perform the prime minister’s duties until his successor is appointed and that holding general elections in the near future “is not the best option” due to the welfare and security of the people.

The new caretaker went live at 3PM today, officially announcing his resignation.

“It is obvious that I have lost the majority support. So, there is no longer a need to ascertain my legitimacy as the prime minister in Parliament.

“So today, I have tendered my resignation as prime minister and also the resignation of my entire cabinet as required by the Federal Constitution,” he said in a special announcement aired live on television.

Upon hearing the news, netizens reacted and turned the internet into a rabbit hole of memes on Twitter, summarising the entirety of today’s situation.

And there you have it, everything you need to know on the most recent developments in this political episode. Stay tuned as the nation goes furniture shopping for a new cabinet.

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