Former Deputy Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob appears to have won majority support to become Malaysia’s new leaderKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Malaysia's longest-governing political party appeared set to reclaim the premiership it lost in a shock 2018 election defeat, with its lawmakers summoned to the palace Thursday to verify their candidate has enough support to take office. Ismail, 61, an UMNO vice president, appeared to have majority support in Parliament. The king’s role is largely ceremonial in Malaysia, but he appoints the person he believes has majority support in Parliament as prime minister. In 2015 as trade minister, Ismail courted controversy when he urged Malay consumers to boycott profiteering Chinese businesses. Anwar was due to succeed then-Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad before their reformist alliance collapsed in February 2020, sparked by the withdrawal of Muhyiddin’s party.

Source: ABC News August 19, 2021 02:19 UTC