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Malaysia has had three prime ministers in the last three years, as in ghting and defections fracture alliances. Here’s a look at the twists and turns in the country’s power struggles. OCT JAN AUG AUG POWER TRIP 2020 2021 3 16

• Pakatan Harapan coalition headed by • PH government collapses • Amid in ghting • Two Umno • Eleven Umno • Muhyiddin Mahathir Mohamad and Anwar Ibrahim after MPs from Mahathir’s and challenges to MPs withdraw MPs pull out of resigns as MAY wins the election, the rst time in FEB Parti Pribumi Bersatu MARCH SEPT his leadership, support for PN, depriving prime minister, 2018 Malaysia’s history that Umno-led Barisan 2020 Malaysia (PPBM) and 2020 2020 Muhyiddin seeks Muhyiddin, the pact of its after his offer Nasional (BN) is defeated at the ballot box. Anwar’s Parti Keadilan the King’s consent who then asks Parliamentary of political • Mahathir becomes prime minister, with Rakyat (PKR) leave the to declare a state again that a majority. reforms in Anwar as his designated successor. coalition. • Muhyiddin Yassin, president of • Anwar claims of emergency to state of return for • Najib Razak steps down as Umno chief • Mahathir resigns. He later PPBM, is sworn in as prime to have a “strong, tackle the Covid-19 emergency be support is and is succeeded by Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. leaves PPBM and forms minister. He leads Perikatan formidable and pandemic. The King declared. The rejected by the AUG • BN’s numbers dwindle, and now number Parti Pejuang Tanah Air, Nasional (PN), a loose alliance convincing” declines, but urges King agrees opposition. 20 42 MPs in the 222-seat Parliament. which has four MPs. mainly comprising PPBM, Umno, majority and lawmakers to cease and Parliament • The King asks PH, led by Anwar, is left Parti Islam SeMalaysia and says that PN has politicking and is effectively • lawmakers to Umno, together with three of its original Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS). collapsed. But he approve the suspended name their • four parties - PKR, fails to convince Budget. The until the with other remaining • Umno returns to government as choice of parties in PN, back Democratic Action Party part of the ruling pact but neither the King. Budget narrowly emergency candidate to and Parti Amanah Negara. passes in ends on Aug 1. Ismail Sabri Yaakob Najib nor Zahid have Cabinet posts. become the as prime minister. Anwar becomes Leader of • Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri December with Muhyiddin next prime the Opposition. Yaakob is appointed defence 111 MPs for and promises to minister. minister and senior minister for 108 against. hold elections security matters, which makes him as soon as the lead minister for Covid-19 pandemic is restrictions. under control. AUG 21

• Umno returns to helm the government, as Ismail is sworn in as Malaysia’s ninth prime minister with the support of 114 MPs.

STRAITS TIMES GRAPHICS: CEL GULAPA, MARLONE RUBIO