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Embattled Malaysian PM gets respite but survival in balance
A man walks in front of a poster of UMNO ( United Malays National Organisation) President Ahmad Zahid at UMNO headquarter in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Monday, Oct. 26, 2020. A key ally has reaffirmed support for Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's government, offering him a respite after his failed bid to declare a coronavirus emergency, but his political survival still hangs in the balance. The UMNO, the biggest party in the unelected governing coalition was angry at being sidelined amid rivalry with Muhyiddin's own Malay party. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
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Embattled Malaysian PM gets respite but survival in balance
A key ally has reaffirmed support for Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's government, offering him a respite after his failed bid to declare a coronavirus emergency, but his political survival still hangs in the balance. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)KUALA LUMPUR – A key ally's reaffirmed support for Malaysia's prime minister offers him a respite after his failed bid to declare a coronavirus emergency, but his political survival still hangs in the balance. “Muhyiddin can now cling on to his political survival only at the whims of UMNO, which sees unresolved factional struggles. The king met Anwar earlier this month but has postponed meetings with party leaders to verify Anwar’s claim of a majority support. said Muhyiddin’s emergency plan was really an admission of defeat but he received “an indirect slap on the face” from the king.
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Malaysian PM acknowledges king's rebuff of virus emergency
Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin attends a parliament session at lower house in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on July 13, 2020. Muhyiddin said Monday, Oct. 26, 2020 his government was prioritizing protecting people from COVID-19 amid a new outbreak after the king rejected an emergency proposal that critics saw as an undemocratic attempt to hold onto power. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
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Malaysian PM acknowledges king's rebuff of virus emergency
Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin attends a parliament session at lower house in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on July 13, 2020. Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's proposal for the king to declare a state of emergency to fight the coronavirus would have suspended Parliament and let him dodge an imminent test of his support. The plan sparked national outrage, but the king's decision to reject it Sunday was praised by many Malaysians on social media. A state of emergency could allow him to approve the budget without a vote and consolidate support. Some have warned that declaring an emergency could plunge the country into a dictatorship and ruin the economy.
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Malaysia's king rejects PM's proposal to declare emergency
Malaysia's King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah waves as he leaves National Palace in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. National Palace statement says Malay rulers has decided not to accede to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's request to declare a state of emergency. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
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Malaysia's king rejects PM's proposal to declare emergency
Malaysia's King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah waves as he leaves National Palace in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. National Palace statement says Malay rulers has decided not to accede to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's request to declare a state of emergency. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia's king on Sunday rejected a proposal by embattled Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to declare a state of emergency to fight a new outbreak of the coronavirus. The king can declare a state of emergency that allows the country to be governed through ordinances that cannot be challenged in court. Some media outlets have cited sources as saying that Muhyiddin wanted an “economic emergency” to merely suspend Parliament, without any curfew.
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Malaysia's Anwar meets king in bid to form new government
Anwar met the king Tuesday in a bid to form a new government after claiming he had secured a majority in Parliament. Anwar said he showed he has the support of over 120 lawmakers, which would allow him to unseat Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. It said the king advised Anwar “to abide by and respect the legal process" based on the constitution. Allies in his Malay-centric coalition also denied supporting Anwar, and branded Anwar a “desperado” for seeking to wrest power during the pandemic. Mahathir became prime minister a second time.
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Malaysian opposition leader Anwar plans new government
Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim gestures as he leaves after a press conference in Kuala Lumpur, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. Anwar said he has secured a majority in parliament to form a new government that is strong, stable and formidable." (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
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Malaysian opposition leader Anwar plans new government
Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim gestures as he leaves after a press conference in Kuala Lumpur, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. Anwar said he has secured a majority in parliament to form a new government that is strong, stable and formidable." (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said Wednesday he has secured a majority in Parliament to form a new government, but parties in the ruling coalition called it a “cheap publicity" stunt. Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said Anwar must provide evidence, and “until proven otherwise, my National Alliance government still stands firm and I am still prime minister.” He urged Malaysians to stay calm. Once a high flyer in the ruling party, Anwar was convicted of homosexual sodomy and corruption after a power struggle with Mahathir in 1998.
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Malaysia denies media harassment in row over Al-Jazeera film
KUALA LUMPUR Malaysia has denied it was clamping down on social media after an outcry over an announcement that all video production must be licensed amid a row with news broadcaster Al-Jazeera. Communications Minister Saifuddin Abdullah sparked confusion Thursday after saying every film and video, including those produced by media groups and social media users, must comply with a 1981 Film Act that requires licensing. Many Malaysians and opposition lawmakers criticized Saifuddins announcement that could potentially affect videos produced on popular social media platforms such as Tik Tok, Facebook and Instagram. Over 80% of Malaysias 32 million population are social media users. Police also questioned an activist about a social media post alleging mistreatment of refugees at immigration detention centers.
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Malaysia PM wins tests of support, ousts house speaker
KUALA LUMPUR Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin narrowly won a motion to boot the parliament speaker Monday, scraping through the first test of his support nearly five months after taking power. Its success could thwart the opposition's bid of a no-confidence vote against Muhyiddin, analysts said. Lawmakers engaged in heated debates over Muhyiddins unprecedented proposal to replace the house speaker with his own candidate. Then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad resigned in protest of the plan, and filed a motion of no-confidence against his former party ally. Chin said the speaker replacement suggested parliament cannot act as an effective check and balance against Muhyiddin.