KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin defied on Wednesday mounting pressure to quit, saying he retained majority support among lawmakers and would prove it when the nation’s parliament reconvened next month, agencies reported.

The biggest bloc in Muhyiddin’s ruling alliance, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), is split on its support for the prime minister, who has governed with a razor-thin majority in an unstable coalition since coming to power in March 2020.

In a televised speech, Muhyiddin said King Al-Sultan Abdullah agreed that he should stay in power until the confidence vote, even though some members of his coalition had withdrawn support.

In defiant remarks on national television, Muhyiddin said there was no question of his resigning as he held a majority.

“I am aware that my position as prime minister continues to be questioned,” said Muhyiddin, who was flanked by nine lawmakers, including the deputy prime minister and UMNO politician Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

“Hence, I have informed the King that I will determine my legitimacy as prime minister in parliament.”

The influential monarch had helped Muhyiddin retain his precarious hold on power, in order to avoid political chaos as Malaysia battled surging Covid-19 infections and an economic downturn stemming from lockdowns.

Pressure erupted again last week for Muhyiddin to quit, however, after the King issued a rare rebuke of a government move to revoke emergency laws without his approval, an act the palace said ran counter to the constitution.

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