KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 29, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Muhyiddin Yassin, who is set to
become Malaysia’s next prime minister, is a low-profile political insider and
former stalwart of the establishment Muslim party that led the country for
decades.
As Mahathir Mohamad and Anwar Ibrahim engaged in a power struggle
following the collapse of their two-year-old coalition, the unassuming 72-
year-old emerged as an unexpected compromise candidate.
He managed to outmanoeuvre them both by forming an alliance of parties
dominated by the country’s ethnic Malay Muslim majority. Even a last-minute
change of tack by Mahathir and Anwar to join forces to stop him failed, and
he garnered enough backing from MPs.
He will be sworn in Sunday.
Muhyiddin is considered a Malay nationalist — he once described himself
as a “Malay first”, rather than Malaysian first — sparking controversy in a
multi-ethnic country where race and religion are deeply sensitive.
While this status may help him win some votes, he was not elected —
rather, the king appointed him following the past week’s political upheaval –
– and could struggle to win legitimacy.
“He’s a capable administrator,” Bridget Welsh, a Malaysia expert from the
University of Nottingham, told AFP.
But she added that, ultimately, he was a “man with no mandate”.
Muhyiddin was interior minister until the ruling coalition fell apart amid
vicious infighting, an important position that oversees the powerful police
among other things.
From southern Johor state, in 1971 he joined the United Malays National
Organisation (UMNO), the lynchpin of a coalition that ruled Malaysia for six
decades until its defeat two years ago.
He was chief minister of Johor, a Malay heartland, and later served in
senior posts in central government including as sports minister and education
minister before being named deputy prime minister in 2009 when Najib Razak
was premier.
– Sacked over 1MDB –
But he later fell out with Najib after criticising him over the handling
of the multi-billion-dollar scandal linked to state fund 1MDB, and was sacked
in 2015. Najib was accused of looting huge sums from 1MDB, allegations that
contributed to his coalition’s 2018 poll defeat, and is currently on trial.
Muhyiddin later joined the Bersatu party, a political vehicle set up by
Mahathir, and helped to oust Najib and UMNO from power.
The latest twist in the topsy-turvy world of Malaysian politics has seen
him join hands with UMNO once again to win power — and the man who sacked
him remains a lawmaker, despite being on trial.
He was diagnosed with early-stage pancreatic cancer in 2018, and has
undergone an operation.
Welsh described him as “very religious, more quiet and less charismatic”
than some other Malaysian politicians.
Still some worry that his controversial comments about race could
exacerbate already tense relations between the country’s different ethnic and
religious groups.
About 60 percent of Malaysia’s population are Muslim but the country is
also home to substantial ethnic Chinese and ethnic Indian minorities, who do
not typically follow Islam.
His coalition is likely banking on his status as a Malay nationalist to
win votes with the country’s majority group.
The previous administration was accused of failing to protect the
privileges of the Malays — which range from better access to government jobs
and discounts on property — and of being too influenced by ethnic Chinese
politicians.