Malaysian political turmoil still remains even after Mahathir Mohamad secures support from his 20-years long time rival and coalition partner Anwar Ibrahim.
Malaysia’s Interim prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has reunited with Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan Party after he resigned last week on February 24th, 2020. This reunification has again rendered him the majority numbers in the Malaysian Parliament. Confirming the reunification of the two leaders, Anwar tweeted as:
To paraphrase @fahmi_fadzil it’s time to do the right thing for the rakyat & our beloved nation https://t.co/agzSbRnnjO
— Anwar Ibrahim (@anwaribrahim) February 29, 2020
But after Mahathir’s resignation, a series of happenings has put the Malaysian Political system in chaos. Mahathir’s own party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia has announced Muhyiddin as their next Prime Minister Candidate on 28th Feb 2020. A day after that announcement they also announced that Mahathir is no longer their party’s chairman.
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The whole drama started as serious differences arose between Mahathir and Anwar over the Prime Minister’s post. In 2018 elections, both Anwar Ibrahim and Mahathir Mohamad formed a coalition and to sweep the victory. This victory has put an end to a decades period ruling of Barisan Nasional alliances which led the country for 61 years. Former Prime Minister of the alliance, Najib Razak is now facing the corruption charges.
Mahathir is the oldest leader in the world to rule a country as Prime minister. He is 94 years old. Anwar is 72 years old.
The real twist lies in the contradictory statements issued by the Interim Prime Minister Mahathir and the Parliament speaker regarding the conduction of a special session to elect the Prime minister. Mahathir today said that a special parliament session will be convened on March 2 to prove his majority as Prime Minister again. But the speaker of the Parliament who is considered as the monarch in the Malaysian Parliamentary system has stated that the re-convening of Parliament is entitled within the powers of the Malaysian King.