Muhyiddin Yassin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yang Berhormat Tan Sri Dato' Haji Muhyiddin Yassin PSM SPMJ SHMS SPSA SPMP SUNS SPDK DUNM DP PNBS SMJ PIS BSI MP
محيي الدين ياسين‎
Muhyiddin in 2021
8th Prime Minister of Malaysia
In office 1 March 2020 – 16 August 2021 Caretaker: 16 – 21 August 2021
Monarch	Abdullah
Deputy	Ismail Sabri Yaakob
Preceded by	Mahathir Mohamad
Succeeded by	Ismail Sabri Yaakob
Menteri Besar of Johor
In office 12 August 1986 – 13 May 1995
Monarch	Iskandar
Preceded by	Abdul Ajib Ahmad
Succeeded by	Abdul Ghani Othman
President of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party
Incumbent
Assumed office 7 September 2016
Deputy	Mukhriz Mahathir Ahmad Faizal Azumu Hamzah Zainuddin
Preceded by	Position established
Ministerial portfolios 1981–1982 Parliamentary Secretary of Foreign Affairs 1982–1983 Deputy Minister of Federal Territories 1983–1986 Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry 1995–1999 Minister of Youth and Sports 1999–2004 Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumerism 2004–2008 Minister of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry 2008–2009 Minister of International Trade and Industry 2009–2015 Minister of Education 2009–2015 Deputy Prime Minister 2018–2020 Minister of Home Affairs 2021–2022 Chairman of the National Recovery Council
Parliamentary offices Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Pagoh Incumbent Assumed office 26 April 1995 Preceded by Ahmad Omar In office 23 July 1978 – 3 August 1986 Preceded by Syed Nasir Ismail Succeeded by Ahmad Omar Member of the Johor State Legislative Assembly for Bukit Serampang In office 4 August 1986 – 25 April 1995 Preceded by Zakaria Salleh Succeeded by Ahmad Omar Member of the Johor State Legislative Assembly for Gambir In office 10 May 2018 – 11 March 2022 Preceded by Zakaria Salleh Succeeded by Sahrihan Jani
Party offices 2009–2016 Deputy President of UMNO 2020 Acting Chairman of BERSATU
Personal details
Born	Mahiaddin bin Md. Yasin (1947-05-15) 15 May 1947 (age 78) Muar, Johor, Malayan Union (now Malaysia)
Political party	UMNO (1971–2016) BERSATU (since 2016)
Other political affiliations	Alliance (1971–1973) BN (1973– 2016) PH (2016–2020) PN (since 2020)
Spouse	Noorainee Abdul Rahman ​ (m. 1972)​
Children	4
Alma mater	University of Malaya (BA)
Signature

Mahiaddin bin Md. Yasin (born 15 May 1947), known as Muhyiddin bin Mohd. Yassin, is a Malaysian politician. He served as the eighth Prime Minister of Malaysia from 2020 to 2021. Muhyiddin became prime minister during a time of political change. He held the position for about 17 months before stepping down.

Muhyiddin grew up in Johor, a state in Malaysia. After studying at the University of Malaya, he worked for the state government. He also held important roles in different state-owned companies.

Early Life and Education

Muhyiddin was born as Mahiaddin bin Md. Yasin in Muar, Johor, Malaysia. His father, Haji Muhammad Yassin bin Muhammad, was a religious scholar. His mother, Hajjah Khadijah binti Kassim, was of Javanese descent.

Muhyiddin went to primary school at Sekolah Kebangsaan Maharani and Sekolah Kebangsaan Ismail in Muar. He then attended Muar High School. Later, he studied at the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur. In 1971, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Malay studies.

Starting His Career

After finishing his studies, Muhyiddin began working for the Johor state government. He started as an assistant secretary for training and scholarships. In 1974, he became an assistant district officer in Muar.

He later left government work to join the business world. He managed several companies under the Johor State Economic Development Corporation. These roles included managing director and human resources manager.

Early Political Journey (1971–1995)

Joining Politics

Muhyiddin started his political journey in 1971. He became a member of the UMNO party in the Muar Dalam area. In 1976, he was chosen as the youth leader for UMNO in the Pagoh division. He also became the secretary there. He then led the UMNO Youth for the entire state of Johor until 1987.

Muhyiddin also served on the national UMNO Youth executive council. In 1984, he became the UMNO division chief for Pagoh. He quickly moved up the ranks in Johor UMNO. He went from being a state executive council member to leading Johor UMNO. Later, he became the Menteri Besar of Johor, which is like the chief minister of the state.

Serving in Government

In 1978, Muhyiddin was elected as a Member of Parliament for the Pagoh area. He held this seat until 1982. During this time, he was appointed as a parliamentary secretary in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. He was then promoted to Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Federal Territories. Later, he became Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry.

Muhyiddin tried to get a seat on the UMNO Supreme Council in 1984 but did not win. However, he was later appointed as the UMNO Johor state liaison chairman. He then became a Supreme Council member. He tried again for the UMNO vice-presidency in 1990 but lost. In 1993, he tried one more time and was successful.

Rising to Prominence (1995–2009)

Muhyiddin returned to contest the Pagoh parliamentary seat in the 1995 General Election. He won the seat again.

He held several important positions in the federal government. He was the Minister of Youth and Sports (1995–1999). Then he became the Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (1999–2004). After that, he served as the Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry (2004–2008). From 2008 to 2009, he was the Minister of International Trade and Industry.

In 2009, Prime Minister Najib Razak appointed him as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education. Muhyiddin lost the vice-president election in 1996. But in 2000, he won the vice-president post again. He held this position until 2008, when he successfully ran for the higher post of deputy president of UMNO.

Deputy Prime Minister (2009–2015)

Muhyiddin at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., in 2010

Muhyiddin became Deputy Prime Minister on 9 April 2009. This happened when Najib Razak took over as Prime Minister.

As the Minister for Education, he decided that mathematics and science would again be taught in Malay in all government schools.

In March 2010, Muhyiddin caused some discussion when he said he was "Malay first" rather than "Malaysian first". He also said it was fine for other races to feel the same way. For example, Chinese people could say they are "Chinese first, Malaysian second." Prime Minister Najib Razak supported Muhyiddin's statement.

Leaving the Cabinet

In July 2015, Muhyiddin was removed from his position as Deputy Prime Minister. This happened after he openly criticized the government's handling of a financial issue. The Prime Minister said that he wanted a more "unified team" in the cabinet. Muhyiddin remained the deputy president of UMNO. However, because he continued to speak out against the party, he was eventually removed from UMNO in June 2016. Muhyiddin said he had not betrayed the party and would keep speaking his mind.

After Being Deputy Prime Minister (2015–2018)

Starting the BERSATU Party

In August 2016, Muhyiddin helped create a new political party. It was called Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (BERSATU). He started it with former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. Muhyiddin became the party's president. Mahathir became the chairman, and his son Mukhriz Mahathir became the deputy president.

BERSATU mainly focuses on the Bumiputera people, which include Malays and Orang Asli. Only Bumiputera can be full members of the party. Other races can join but cannot vote or run in party elections. In November 2023, Muhyiddin announced he would not seek to be president again in the 2024 party elections. However, the party leaders and members strongly disagreed. The next day, he changed his mind and decided to run for president again.

Minister of Home Affairs (2018-2020)

Muhyiddin in 2018

When Pakatan Harapan won the 14th General Election, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad appointed Muhyiddin as the Malaysian Minister of Home Affairs.

In May 2018, Muhyiddin announced that his ministry would review seven laws related to national security. He said these laws needed to be updated for modern times. These laws included acts about printing, sedition, peaceful assembly, and crime prevention.

From 16 to 21 September 2019, Muhyiddin visited the United States. His goal was to strengthen security ties between Malaysia and the U.S.

Prime Minister (2020–2021)

On 29 February 2020, Muhyiddin was appointed Prime Minister by the King of Malaysia. This happened after a week of political changes and the resignation of Mahathir Mohamad. He was the first person to become prime minister while holding both a parliamentary and a state seat.

COVID-19 Pandemic Response

During Muhyiddin's time as prime minister, the COVID-19 pandemic spread across Malaysia. To stop the virus, Muhyiddin put in place the Movement Control Order (MCO) on 16 March 2020. This order started nationwide on 18 March. It was later extended with some changes until 9 June 2020. To help the economy during the MCO, he introduced a large financial support package.

On 1 May, Muhyiddin announced a Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO). This allowed some businesses to slowly reopen if they followed safety rules. People could also travel to return home if they were stuck in other states. However, large gatherings and sports were still not allowed.

The CMCO was extended until 9 June. More businesses were allowed to operate. Shopping malls, dining in restaurants, and non-contact sports were permitted with social distancing.

Later, the CMCO became the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO). This lasted from 10 June to 31 August. Under the RMCO, most activities like social, religious, business, and educational events were allowed to restart. Hair salons, markets, and gyms reopened gradually. However, places like nightclubs and theme parks remained closed.

Muhyiddin in parliament on 18 May 2020.

In September 2020, the government's response to COVID-19 had a high approval rating. Muhyiddin himself also had strong support.

However, after the 2020 Sabah state election in September, COVID-19 cases increased. The government then imposed a Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) again. This was criticized by health experts for not being strict enough. The government did not impose a full MCO again until January 2021.

The way the government handled the later waves of the pandemic led to public anger. Hashtags like "#KerajaanGagal" (meaning "Failed Government") and "#MuhyiddinOut" became popular online. In mid-2021, a "Black Flag Campaign" also started, urging Muhyiddin to resign.

On 31 July 2021, many people protested in Kuala Lumpur. They called for Muhyiddin to resign because of his government's handling of the pandemic.

Foreign Relations

Myanmar

After a meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Muhyiddin called for a special meeting of ASEAN. This meeting was about the situation in Myanmar after the 2021 coup d'état. At the April 2021 meeting, Muhyiddin announced that Malaysia's suggestions to Myanmar's leader were not rejected. These suggestions included ending violence against civilians and releasing political prisoners.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein were greeted by ASEAN Secretary General Lim Jock Hoi on 24 April 2021.

State of Emergency

On 19 October 2020, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah of Pahang did not agree to Muhyiddin's request for a proclamation of emergency. Muhyiddin had asked for it because of a rise in COVID-19 cases. However, on 21 January 2021, a new request for a proclamation of emergency was approved by the King. This emergency was expected to last until 1 August. During this time, the Parliament and all elections were suspended.

Losing Support and Resignation

On 8 July 2021, the UMNO party withdrew its support for Muhyiddin. They asked him to resign because of how he handled the COVID-19 pandemic. UMNO leaders pointed to the rising number of infections and deaths. They also mentioned the impact on the economy and a lack of political stability.

On 4 August 2021, Muhyiddin stated that he still had enough support from Members of Parliament. He said he would hold a vote of confidence in September if there were doubts. However, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim claimed that many MPs no longer supported Muhyiddin.

On 6 August 2021, Muhyiddin repeated that he was confident he still had majority support in Parliament.

However, on 15 August 2021, a minister announced that Muhyiddin would resign the next day. Muhyiddin and his cabinet submitted their resignations to the King on Monday, 16 August 2021.

After Being Prime Minister (2021–Present)

Leading the National Recovery Council

Muhyiddin with US Ambassador Brian McFeeters on 2 December 2021.

On 4 September 2021, Muhyiddin was appointed as the Chairman of the National Recovery Council (NRC). This was a high-level position aimed at helping Malaysia recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The government trusted Muhyiddin to lead these recovery efforts. However, on 21 December 2022, the new Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim closed down the NRC. This was because its duties overlapped with other government agencies.

2022 General Election

Perikatan Nasional announced Muhyiddin Yassin as their candidate for prime minister in the 2022 Malaysian general election. The election took place on 19 November 2022. Perikatan Nasional won 73 seats, which was less than the 112 seats needed to form a majority government. After the election, Muhyiddin claimed he had enough support to become prime minister.

On 22 November, the royal palace stated that no Member of Parliament had enough majority support to be appointed prime minister. So, the King called both Muhyiddin and Anwar Ibrahim for a meeting. After the meeting, Muhyiddin said the King suggested a unity government. However, Muhyiddin rejected this idea, saying his party would not work with Pakatan Harapan.

Anwar Ibrahim was later appointed as Malaysia's 10th Prime Minister on 24 November 2022. He was sworn in with the King's approval. Muhyiddin, however, continued to insist that he had the support of 115 MPs to form the next government.

Personal Life

Family Life

Muhyiddin married Noorainee Abdul Rahman in 1972. They have four children: two sons and two daughters. Their children are involved in different fields like business, entertainment, and writing.

Health Information

After the 2018 Malaysian general election, Muhyiddin was diagnosed with an early-stage tumor in his pancreas. He spent about a month in a hospital in Singapore for surgery. The operation was successful, and he returned to Malaysia in good condition. He then had several months of follow-up treatment, including chemotherapy.

Based on medical advice, Muhyiddin took a one-month medical leave to recover. During his absence, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad temporarily took charge of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

On 22 May 2020, Muhyiddin went into quarantine for 14 days. This was because an officer who attended a meeting with him tested positive for COVID-19. On 4 June 2020, he finished his quarantine and tested negative for COVID-19. He was then able to return to his duties as prime minister.

On 9 February 2022, he confirmed that he had tested positive for COVID-19. He had mild symptoms and went into quarantine.

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