2020–2022 Malaysian political crisis

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Coat of arms of Malaysia

2020–2022 Malaysian political crisis

The 2020–2022 Malaysian political crisis was a significant period of political instability in Malaysia that began in February 2020 and continued until 2022. The crisis was marked by a series of events that led to the resignation of the Prime Minister, the collapse of the ruling coalition, and the formation of new political alliances.

Background

The crisis began with the resignation of Mahathir Mohamad as the Prime Minister on 24 February 2020. This unexpected move led to the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition government, which had been in power since the 2018 Malaysian general election. Mahathir's resignation was followed by a series of political maneuvers and realignments among various political parties.

Key Events

Resignation of Mahathir Mohamad

On 24 February 2020, Mahathir Mohamad resigned as the Prime Minister, leading to the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government. His resignation was seen as a strategic move to form a new government with a different coalition.

Formation of Perikatan Nasional

Following Mahathir's resignation, Muhyiddin Yassin was appointed as the Prime Minister on 1 March 2020. He formed a new coalition government known as Perikatan Nasional (PN), which included parties such as Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), and Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS).

Political Instability and Challenges

The new PN government faced numerous challenges, including a lack of a clear majority in the Dewan Rakyat, the lower house of the Parliament of Malaysia. This led to frequent political maneuvering and attempts by the opposition to challenge the government's legitimacy.

State of Emergency

In January 2021, Muhyiddin Yassin declared a state of emergency, citing the need to control the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia. The emergency allowed the government to suspend parliamentary sessions and implement measures without legislative approval. This move was criticized by the opposition as an attempt to maintain power amid political instability.

Resignation of Muhyiddin Yassin

On 16 August 2021, Muhyiddin Yassin resigned as the Prime Minister after losing majority support in the Dewan Rakyat. His resignation led to the appointment of Ismail Sabri Yaakob as the new Prime Minister on 21 August 2021.

Impact

The political crisis had significant implications for Malaysia's governance and stability. It affected the country's ability to effectively manage the COVID-19 pandemic and implement economic policies. The frequent changes in government also led to uncertainty and a lack of continuity in policy-making.

Conclusion

The 2020–2022 Malaysian political crisis was a period of significant political upheaval that saw the resignation of two prime ministers, the collapse of a ruling coalition, and the formation of new political alliances. The crisis highlighted the fragility of Malaysia's political landscape and the challenges of maintaining stable governance in a multi-party system.

See also

• Politics of Malaysia
• Prime Minister of Malaysia
• Pakatan Harapan
• Perikatan Nasional
• COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia