Tumultuous Politics in Malaysia

Malaysia had a general election on 9 May 2018, formally known as the 14th Malaysian general election (GE14).

In an unprecedented victory, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, which had been the country's opposition at federal level prior to the election, won a simple majority in the Dewan Rakyat (the legislature's lower house) together with the Sabah Heritage Party (WARISAN).

PH and WARISAN cumulatively secured 121 seats in the 222 seat legislative house. The election heralded the first regime change in Malaysia's history, as the erstwhile ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, which had enjoyed an uninterrupted reign over the country since Malaya's independence in 1957, despite rampant corruption and abuse of power, was eventually voted out of power.

In a blatant act of betrayal, Mahiaddin Md. Yasin of PPBM (as splinter group of PH) worked with BN and other smaller opposition parties, by offering ministerial and governmental positions to these parliamentarians, to secure enough support on 1 March 2020 to form a new government and there forth went against the mandate of the people in GE14.

In a twist of fate, the BN team withdrew their support for Mahiaddin causing his government's collapse. Ismail Sabri of BN however turned around to offer benefits to PPBM members and other unprincipled smaller parties to regain the control of the Dewan Rakyat by getting assent from the king to form another new government on 21 August 2021, although he has not gone through a vote of confidence in the Parliament as yet. A confidence vote has never been undertaken by Mahiaddin or Ismail despite the fact that it is constitutionally required under the Westminster styled government inherited from the British.

Malaysian modern history is becoming more like a Star Wars saga. George Lucas will probably  be delighted to know this 😄 :

A New Hope                        (9 May 2018)

The Empire Strikes Back     (21 August 2021)

Return of the Jedi                 (?? ?? ??)

The saga continues...