His resignation could return the premiership to the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), Malaysia’s so called “grand old party,” which was voted out in a 2018 election after being tainted by corruption allegations. Reuters journalists saw Muhyiddin arrive at the national palace. The prime minister convened a special cabinet meeting on Monday morning, state news agency Bernama reported. The minister did not respond to a request for comment. Muhyiddin, who had for weeks defied calls to quit, had informed party members that he would submit his resignation to the king on Monday, according to Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof, a minister in the prime minister’s department, news portal Malaysiakini reported on Sunday. The decision is likely to be thrust into the hands of constitutional monarch King Al-Sultan Abdullah, who can appoint a prime minister from among elected lawmakers based on who he thinks is most likely to command a majority. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim) Achmad Ibrahim/APĭelta variant is ravaging the world but it's pushing Southeast Asia to breaking point The world's fourth most populous country has been hit hard by an explosion of COVID-19 cases that have strained hospitals on the main island of Java. Workers in protective gear lower a coffin of a COVID-19 victim to a grave for burial at the Cipenjo Cemetery in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, Wednesday, July 14, 2021. Malaysia’s infections and fatality rates per million people are the highest in Southeast Asia. It was not immediately clear who could form the next government, given no one has a clear majority in parliament, or whether elections could be held during the pandemic.

Malaysia’s ringgit currency earlier fell to a one-year low and the stock market slipped.

If confirmed, his resignation would end a tumultuous 17 months in office, but could also hamper Malaysia’s efforts to reboot a pandemic-stricken economy and curb a resurgence in Covid-19 cases, as there is no obvious successor. Muhyiddin’s hand had weakened after months of infighting in his coalition. Muhyiddin’s office did not respond to Reuters requests for confirmation on Monday. Prime Minister Muhyiddin was earlier seen entering the national palace on Monday, after reports he would tender his resignation to the king. Khairy announced the news in a post on Instagram. Malaysia’s cabinet led by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has tendered its resignation to the king, science minister Khairy Jamaluddin said on Monday, after months of political turmoil that resulted in a loss of the premier’s majority.

Yassin & tahlil rumi