Malaysia's king on Thursday (Nov 24) appointed reformist icon Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister, a decision that ended a protracted post-election impasse and capped one of the most remarkable turnarounds for a politician in modern Southeast Asian history. Over three decades, Anwar had gone from the country's number two leader to a protest leader, a prisoner convicted...
Malaysia's new prime minister, 75-year-old Anwar Ibrahim, was sworn in on Thursday (Nov 24), bringing to a close his three-decade quest for the job that had eluded him time and again and led to him spending nearly a decade in jail. How did he rise to the top? As opposition leader, Anwar led tens of thousands of Malaysians in...
Weariness began to set in among Malaysians on Wednesday (Nov 23) as the country's post-election political impasse lingered, though there were positive signs for those backing reformist opposition Anwar Ibrahim as the next prime minister. King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah's convening of a special meeting with the nation's other hereditary sultans suggested a resolution was in...
A Malaysian minister seen as close to prime ministerial contender Muhyiddin Yassin on Wednesday (Nov 23) was forced to amend a Facebook post that commenters said was dangerously fanning racial tensions amid the country's political deadlock. Annuar Musa, a member of the Barisan Nasional bloc had shared an undated video, seemingly featuring a Taiwanese political rally with...
Malaysia's king on Wednesday (Nov 23) called a special meeting of his fellow hereditary sultans to discuss who should be prime minister as an unprecedented post-election crisis entered its fourth day. The king is due to pick a new prime minister after the leading contenders — opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and former premier Muhyiddin Yassin — failed to secure enough...
Malaysian King Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah is in the spotlight as he mulls his choice on who will be the country's next prime minister, after an election left no party with a majority in parliament and coalition talks failed. Al-Sultan Abdullah on Tuesday said he would "soon" decide between opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and former...
Malaysia's king said on Tuesday (Nov 22) he will pick the next prime minister, after the leading two contenders failed to win a majority in last weekend's election and his proposal for the two to work together was turned down. The vote resulted in an unprecedented hung parliament, with neither opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim nor former premier...
Malaysia's King has asked that a cross-coalition unity government be formed, after an audience with Pakatan Harapan (PH) leader Anwar Ibrahim and his rival Muhyiddin Yassin of Perikatan Nasional (PN) at the palace on Tuesday. This comes after the Barisan Nasional (BN) alliance decided to remain in the opposition, leaving no leader with a simple majority...
Malaysia's King Al-Sultan Abdullah will pick the next prime minister soon, state news agency Bernama reported on Tuesday (Nov 22), citing the national palace, which did not specify timing for his decision. The palace statement comes as incumbent coalition said it would not support opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim or former premier Muhyiddin Yassin in forming a...
At a Kuala Lumpur tea stall, Kamal, a civil servant in his mid-40s, said his vote this time would be driven by "disgust" over the politicking and infighting that has riddled Malaysia since its last election in 2018. The Pakatan Harapan (PH) government collapsed less than two years into a five-year mandate given by that election...
