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Report: With only four-MP majority, Muhyiddin eyeing snap polls by March 2021

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is said to cash in on the PN government’s purported success in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic, including with its stimulus packages and financial aid. — Picture by Miera Zulyana
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is said to cash in on the PN government’s purported success in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic, including with its stimulus packages and financial aid. — Picture by Miera Zulyana

KUALA LUMPUR, June 17 — Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is reportedly planning for a snap general election likely in the first quarter of next year, Tokyo-based Nikkei Asian Review (NAR) reported today citing anonymous sources close to the prime minister.

NAR reported that the Perikatan Nasional (PN) PM’s trusted aides and ministers are laying the groundwork for the election, to “straighten the messy political scene by seeking a fresh five-year mandate from the people” since he has a very small majority in the Parliament.

“The prime minister also cannot go on governing for the next three years with a thin majority of four MPs in Dewan Rakyat.

“None of the important bills will go through and that would be detrimental for the administration,” one of the sources told the news outlet.

During the half-day Parliament sitting on May 18, the government bloc only had 114 seats out of 222 — a majority of three seats.

Sri Aman MP Datuk Masir Kujat then clarified that he is still with the opposition bloc despite being seated with the government, shaving that majority to just two.

But earlier this month, Lubok Antu MP Jugah Muyang quit PKR to support PN, bringing the majority back up to three.

This comes as Pakatan Harapan (PH) claims to have the support of at least 109 MPs this week, which would confirm Muhyiddin’s thin majority.

Muhyiddin is said to cash in on the PN government’s purported success in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic, including with its stimulus packages and financial aid.

NAR reported the source saying that Muhyiddin is confident of a victory if a snap election is called in the next nine months, as PH are still undecided on its own prime minister candidate.

Earlier today, PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said PH has decided who its next candidate for prime minister is, but it will need to refer to Parti Warisan Sabah and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s faction in Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia before a final decision is reached.

NAR also said that Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali has been tasked with garnering support from non-Malays.

Azmin has today denied rumours he is forming a new multi-ethnic political party. He has previously been rumoured to join a former Barisan Nasional  multi-ethnic component, Gerakan.

NAR also reported a source saying that Muhyiddin is considering merging Bersatu, of which he is president and now acting chairman, with former enemies and his old party Umno to create a stronger force.

Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa has been quoted saying discussions surrounding the possibility of snap polls being called were on the agenda of Umno’s supreme council meeting that took place last night.

Muhyiddin had formed the PN federal government just three months ago after Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad resigned as the PH government’s prime minister, caused by Bersatu’s plan to quit PH and join forces with Umno.

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