Malaysia’s king on Friday has named Ismail Sabri Yaakob, as the country’s new leader.
Ismail was the deputy prime minister under the government of Muhyiddin Yassin, who resigned Monday after less than 18 months in office as infighting in his coalition cost him majority support.
Ismail’s appointment essentially restores Muhyiddin’s alliance. It also brings back the rule of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), which had led Malaysia since independence from Britain in 1957 but was ousted in the 2018 elections over a multibillion-dollar financial scandal.
King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah said in a statement that he hopes Ismail’s appointment will bring an end to the country’s political turmoil. He urged lawmakers to set aside their political differences and unite to tackle the country’s worsening pandemic. Sultan Abdullah also said that Ismail had secured the backing of 114 lawmakers for a slender majority.
Ismail, 61, will be sworn in as Malaysia’s ninth prime minister on Saturday.
Ismail was the deputy prime minister under the government of Muhyiddin Yassin, who resigned Monday after less than 18 months in office as infighting in his coalition cost him majority support.
Ismail’s appointment essentially restores Muhyiddin’s alliance. It also brings back the rule of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), which had led Malaysia since independence from Britain in 1957 but was ousted in the 2018 elections over a multibillion-dollar financial scandal.
King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah said in a statement that he hopes Ismail’s appointment will bring an end to the country’s political turmoil. He urged lawmakers to set aside their political differences and unite to tackle the country’s worsening pandemic. Sultan Abdullah also said that Ismail had secured the backing of 114 lawmakers for a slender majority.
Ismail, 61, will be sworn in as Malaysia’s ninth prime minister on Saturday.
