KUALA LUMPUR
\nMalaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin does not have a majority as he has asserted, the main opposition bloc and a key ally said, predicting that he could lose a confidence vote next month.
\nOn Wednesday, Muhyiddin said he retained majority support among lawmakers and would prove it through a confidence vote when Malaysia\u2019s parliament reconvened next month. His comments followed the withdrawal of support from some members of his coalition.
\nMuhyiddin\u2019s grip on power has been shaky since coming to power in March 2020 as he leads an unstable coalition. The latest crisis comes as Malaysia sees a resurgence in COVID-19 infections and economic slowdown from lockdowns.
\nThe main opposition bloc, Pakatan Harapan, disputed Muhyiddin\u2019s majority claim and called for an immediate vote.
\n\u201cAfter Pakatan Harapan leaders made careful calculations with friends from opposition parties and all who do not support Muhyiddin, it is clear that Muhyiddin did not speak the truth,\u201d the bloc said in a statement on Thursday.
\nThe United Malays National Organization (UMNO), the biggest bloc in Muhyiddin\u2019s ruling alliance, also challenged the premier.
\nIn a statement on Wednesday, UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said more than eight lawmakers from the party have withdrawn support.
\nUMNO has constantly challenged Muhyiddin even after agreeing to form a government with him last year. But the party is split on its support for the prime minister \u2014 a factor that has kept Muhyiddin in power despite threats from UMNO to quit.
\nDeputy prime minister and UMNO politician Ismail Sabri Yaakob has stood by Muhyiddin and appeared along with him in a televised address on Wednesday.
\nMuhyiddin said the political turmoil was triggered by \u201ccertain parties\u201d whose demands he had refused to meet, including freeing individuals facing corruption charges.
\nSeveral UMNO lawmakers face corruption charges since the party\u2019s defeat in 2018 elections, including former premier Najib Razak and party president Hamidi.
\nThey have both denied wrongdoing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
KUALA LUMPUR Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin does not have a majority as he has asserted, the main opposition bloc and a key ally said, predicting that he could lose a confidence vote next month. On Wednesday, Muhyiddin said he retained majority support among lawmakers and would prove it through a confidence vote when Malaysia\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-208056","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-world"],"yoast_head":"\n