KUALA LUMPUR: The resignation of Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and his Cabinet has shoved Malaysia into a political quagmire at a time when the nation is battling the COVID-19 pandemic and facing economic uncertainties.
Rumours of Muhyiddin's possible resignation had been circulating in the past few days, this after 15 UMNO members of parliament withdrew their support for the Perikatan Nasional (PN).
In addition, Muhyiddin's proposal for cross-party cooperation with the PN government to address the COVID-19 crisis was also not welcomed by the Opposition parties, which inadvertently showed that he had lost the majority support of MPs.
Speculations of an impending resignation grew stronger yesterday after a Bersatu Supreme Council member revealed that Muhyiddin would be making a special address today, which then led to newsmen camping at the gates of the Pagoh MP's residence, the Prime Minister's Office and Istana Negara to report the latest updates.
Muhyiddin, when leaving his residence in Bukit Damansara at 7.42 am for the Perdana Putra building, Putrajaya to chair the last special cabinet meeting, even waved at media personnel.
He was then seen leaving the government administrative complex to head to Istana Negara, where he was granted an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
Earlier, vehicles carrying the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali, Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun, Inspector -General of Police Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani and Election Commission (EC) Chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh were also seen entering Istana Negara.
And while there was intense speculation by Malaysians on what had transpired in these meetings, several Cabinet ministers 'pre-empted' the official announcement by bidding 'farewell' via social media not long after the eighth Prime Minister had his audience with Al-Sultan Abdullah.
Muhyiddin officially announced his resignation later in a special address at 3 pm aired by several television stations.
Istana Negara also issued a statement, saying that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had consented to receive the resignation letter from Muhyiddin and his entire Cabinet which took effect today.
Al-Sultan Abdullah, who expressed appreciation to Muhyiddin and his Cabinet for their contribution in administering the country under Perikatan Nasional since March 1, 2020, especially in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, also consented to Muhyiddin acting as caretaker Prime Minister until a new Prime Minister is appointed.
His Majesty also expressed hope that the endless political turmoil which had disrupted the government administration could be put to an end for the wellbeing of the people and the country's economy which had been badly affected by Covid-19.
Meanwhile, Mohd Zuki in a statement said the civil service will not be affected by the current political situation in the country, adding that civil servants would continue to carry out the duties entrusted to them as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
Acryl Sani, meanwhile, said the country's security and public order are under control in light of the current political situation.
Bursa Malaysia pared most of its earlier losses at the close of trading today amid the ongoing political developments, with key index remaining above the psychological 1,500-point level.
The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) fell 2.21 points to end the day at its intraday high of 1,502.90 from Friday's close of 1,505.11.
Muhyiddin was sworn in as Prime Minister on March 1, 2020 after Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad resigned on Feb 24 the same year.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Mon Aug 16 2021
The resignation of Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and his Cabinet has shoved Malaysia into a political quagmire at a time when the nation is battling the COVID-19 pandemic and facing economic uncertainties. - BERNAMA photo
Amerika Syarikat mungkin haramkan firma dron China, DJI
Amerika Syarikat kini turut sedang pertimbangkan DJI sebagai ancaman sekuriti, dan mungkin melakukan perundangan untuk mengharamkan DJI.
Bersatu ambil tindakan susulan terhadap enam ahli Parlimen - Muhyiddin
Bersatu sedang melaksanakan tindakan susulan terhadap enam ahli Parlimennya yang menyokong Perdana Menteri selepas meminda Perlembagaan parti bulan lalu.
'Made in Malaysia' - Apple punyai 19 kilang pembekal di negara ini
Malaysia merupakan salah satu negara yang mempunyai beberapa kilang pembekal yang menawarkan komponen kepada Apple.
SPRM lancar bilik gerakan PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu
SPRM melancarkan bilik gerakan, bagi membolehkan orang ramai menyalurkan maklumat serta aduan berkaitan perbuatan rasuah dan salah guna kuasa.
WEF anjur mesyuarat khas di Arab Saudi ketika suhu geopolitik Asia Barat memanas
WEF keluar dari kelazimannya dengan menganjurkan mesyuarat khas dua hari, 28-29 April 2024 di Riyadh, Arab Saudi.
Kerajaan rangka hala tuju beri lebih banyak perlindungan kepada kanak-kanak
Kerajaan akan merangka hala tuju bagi memberikan lebih banyak perlindungan dari segi undang-undang kepada kanak-kanak di negara ini.
Tiada tepung di pasaran tempatan mengandungi benzoil peroksida melebihi kadar dibenarkan - KKM
Tiada mana-mana jenama tepung di pasaran tempatan mengandungi benzoil peroksida melebihi paras yang dibenarkan di bawah undang-undang.
Freedom Flotilla to Gaza: Semua delegasi diminta pulang, FFC akan maklumkan tarikh baharu misi
Menurut Jawatankuasa Pemandu FFC, Ann Wright, pihaknya akan memaklumkan perkembangan terbaharu kepada semua delegasi terlibat sekiranya tarikh akhir pelayaran ditetapkan.
Bytedance enggan jual TikTok di Amerika Syarikat
BYTEDANCE kini mengatakan mereka tidak akan menjual perniagaan TikTok di Amerika Syarikat (AS).
Malaysia komited tingkat hubungan dua hala bersama Libya
Malaysia terus komited mempertingkatkan hubungan dua hala yang berterusan bersama Libya demi manfaat bersama dalam pelbagai sektor.
Bersatu ambil tindakan susulan terhadap enam ahli Parlimen - Muhyiddin
Bersatu sedang melaksanakan tindakan susulan terhadap enam ahli Parlimennya yang menyokong Perdana Menteri selepas meminda Perlembagaan parti bulan lalu.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Kerajaan Perpaduan akan dibebani isu semasa - Muhyiddin
PRK ini bakal jadi referendum untuk rakyat suarakan pandangan yang disifatkan Muhyiddin sebagai perasaan tidak puas hati.
Kes saman Ahmad Zahid terhadap Muhyiddin selesai secara baik
Kes saman yang difailkan Timbalan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi terhadap bekas Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, selesai secara baik di Mahkamah Tinggi hari ini.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Khairul Azhari Saut diumumkan sebagai calon PN
Pemangku Ketua Bahagian Bersatu Hulu Selangor Khairul Azhari Saut diumumkan sebagai calon Perikatan Nasional (PN) bagi Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Kuala Kubu Baharu.
Panel lima hakim Mahkamah Rayuan akan dengar permohonan Muhyiddin
Muhyiddin memohon bagi mendapatkan kebenaran menyemak keputusan panel sebelum ini yang mengembalikan semula empat pertuduhan salah guna kuasa membabitkan RM232.5 juta terhadapnya.
Muhyiddin tidak layak beri kenyataan selagi gagal bantu panggil menantu hadapi tuduhan pecah amanah - Fahmi
Katanya, Muhyiddin gagal membantu pihak berkuasa meminta menantunya yang menghilangkan diri untuk tampil bagi menghadapi pertuduhan.
Peruntukan pembangkang: 'Kalau ikhlas, tak perlu ada MoU' - Muhyiddin
Tidak perlu ada memorandum persefahaman (MoU) jika Kerajaan Perpaduan ikhlas untuk memberikan peruntukan kepada Ahli Parlimen pembangkang, kata Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: PN muktamad calon esok, umum 25 April - Muhyiddin
PN memuktamadkan calon bagi Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Kuala Kubu Baharu esok dan dijangka mengumumkan calon mereka pada 25 April ini.
Muhyiddin mohon lima hakim dengar permohonan semakan
Muhyiddin mohon semakan kehakiman bagi mencabar keputusan yang mengarahkan kes rasuah berjumlah RM232.5 juta.
Saya bersedia berhadapan sebarang kemungkinan yang berlaku - Syed Abu Hussin
Syed Abu Hussin menjelaskan sebagai seorang politik beliau perlu sentiasa bersedia dalam apa jua kemungkinan yang bakal berlaku.