Malaysian king tells Mahathir Mohamad to cool it

Malaysia’s king urges opposition politicians led by Mahathir Mohamad not to drag the country into another political crisis.

King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah opens parliamentary in Kuala Lumpur on Monday. Picture: AFP

Malaysia’s king on Monday urged politicians not to drag the country into another political ­crisis as the opposition led by Mahathir Mohamad — whose government was toppled in February — seeks a return to office.

Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah’s royal address was the only item on the parliamentary agenda after Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin scrapped all other business — including the tabling of an economic stimulus package — to avoid a no-confidence motion from Dr Mahathir.

“I would like to advise not to drag this country into another political uncertainty at a time when the people are facing hardship as a result of the pandemic,” the king told parliament. “It is also for this reason my government had decided to set the parliament sitting for one day with my speech as the only agenda.”

Dr Mahathir and his on-again, off-again political ally Anwar Ibrahim have accused Mr Muhyiddin of using COVID-19 as cover to avoid a political showdown over his claims to majority parliamentary support, which remain untested.

The king said his decision to appoint Mr Muhyiddin as Malaysia’s eighth prime minister was made only after pleading with Dr Mahathir not to resign and then satisfying himself — through a process “in line with the constitution” — that the former Mahathir ally commanded majority lower house support.

“The national political crisis cannot be allowed to become drawn out without an end,” he said, adding MPs must “appreciate the people’s plight”.

That advice will likely fall on deaf ears, with the Mahathir and Anwar-led Pakatan Harapan ­coalition squaring up for a showdown when parliament resumes in July.

Malaysian constitutional lawyer Lim Wei Jiet said a likely stalemate would give Mr Muhyiddin time to shore up support by continuing to dole out plum appointments, while the opposition worked on ensuring its challenge was prioritised as a matter of public importance.

“I don’t think we have ever had such a weak prime minister in that his margin of support is very thin and could disappear very quickly,” Mr Lim told The ­Australian.

Mr Muhyiddin was sworn in on March 1 after leading the defection of more than 40 government MPs to a new coalition with the United Malays National ­Organisation, the Malay Muslim nationalist party that lost power to PH coalition over the multi-­billion-dollar 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal.

Dr Mahathir has accused him of aligning with “crooks”, including former prime minister Najib Razak, who faces 42 counts of corruption and abuse of power ­related to 1MDB.

Just 10 weeks into office, the new government is facing accusations of cronyism after Mr Najib’s stepson, Hollywood producer Riza Aziz, secured an out-of-court settlement over charges he laundered $US248m in 1MDB funds. Former attorney-general Tommy Thomas, who resigned in February, slammed the move on Monday as a “sweetheart deal for Riza but terrible for Malaysia”, given the $US108m to be returned had already been recovered by the US Department of Justice through seized assets.