Malaysia's former ruling alliance backs Ismail Sabri for PM

Reuters

19/08/2021

08:19 MYT

Malaysia's former ruling alliance backs Ismail Sabri for PM

Muhyiddin Yassin, former Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister, speaks during an interview with Reuters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia September 27, 2016. REUTERS/Ebrahim Harris

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's caretaker Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said on Thursday his political alliance had unanimously agreed to back Ismail Sabri Yaakob, his former deputy, as the prime minister candidate.

The alliance collapsed on Monday after some lawmakers withdrew support for Muhyiddin. The decision to back Ismail Sabri was to allow continuity of the former government's policies on COVID-19 and economic recovery, until a suitable time for elections, Muhyiddin said in a statement.