Malaysia’s ruling party dumps Mahathir, dissenters

Published May 29, 2020
Party says former Malaysian premier Mahathir Mohamad ceased to be a member after he made a show of rejecting Muhyiddin’s leadership. — Reuters/File
Party says former Malaysian premier Mahathir Mohamad ceased to be a member after he made a show of rejecting Muhyiddin’s leadership. — Reuters/File

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s ruling party on Thursday terminated the membership of his predecessor Mahathir Mohamad, a move widely seen as an attempt to consolidate power as he faces a possible challenge to his nascent premiership.

Mahathir, 94, had said he would seek to oust Muhyiddin from office for making a “backdoor arrangement” that brought back into power a graft-tainted party rejected by voters in an election in 2018.

In a letter circulated widely on social media, the party stated that Mahathir automatically ceased to be a member after he made a show of rejecting Muhyiddin’s leadership as prime minister and party president by sitting with the opposition when parliament met last week.

Similar letters were also issued to Mahathir’s son and party deputy president, Mukhriz, and three others aligned with the former prime minister.

An aide to Muhyiddin confirmed the letters were authentic.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2020

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.