Malaysian PM Passes Budget Despite Strong Parliamentary Opposition

Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin secured a vital parliamentary majority in favour of his gov'ts budget earlier today in what was seen as a crucial test of his ability to command the requisite number of lawmakers to maintain his government.

• The record budget amounting to MYR322.5bn (USD79.6bn) was approved by 111 votes to 108 votes in the lower Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives).
• Previously, leader of the main opposition Pakatan Harapan party Anwar Ibrahim had claimed that he would have enough support in parliament to form a majority gov't and oust Muhyiddin, whose eight months in office have been marked by bitter infighting within his coalition gov't.
• A former prime minister still present in parliament, Muhyiddin's immediate predecessor Mahathir Mohamad, had sought to unite with Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's UNMO to oust the incumbent. However, in the final committee vote, the UNMO (the party of former Prime Minister Najib Razak, who was given a 12-year jail term for his role in the 1MDB scandal earlier in 2020), maintained its support of the Muhyiddin gov't.
• The confirmation of Muhyiddin's majority (albeit by a narrow margin) could point towards some greater policy stability in the coming months, with the passing of the budget acting as a signal that the PM is able to pass critical legisaltion.