The former prime minister who helped bring down Anwar Ibrahim’s political alliance six years ago has now agreed to back his government in parliament, in a surprise deal struck just before the passage of Malaysia’s 2027 budget at its first voting stage on Thursday.
Muhyiddin Yassin, who governed Malaysia from 2020 to 2021, joined 12 other opposition and independent lawmakers in pledging support for Anwar’s administration, hours before parliament approved the government’s 459.8 billion ringgit (US$111 billion) spending plan at the policy stage.
Speaker Johari Abdul declared the budget passed by a majority voice vote after Second Finance Minister Amir Hamzah Azizan wrapped up the debate, with no recorded tally of lawmakers voting for or against the bill.