The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted and affected the political system of Malaysia, causing suspensions of legislative activities and isolation of multiple politicians due to fears of spreading the virus. The onset of the pandemic coincided with a political crisis in early 2020 which continued into 2021 as the spread of COVID-19 and emergency government measures exacerbated initially unrelated political instability, culminating in the resignation of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and his cabinet in August 2021. Numerous elections have been postponed or suspended after the 2020 Sabah state election was blamed for a major outbreak in the state that led to the country's third wave. Several politicians tested positive for COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021.

General election and government formation

A political crisis in Malaysia coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. The Pakatan Harapan coalition government collapsed, leading to the resignation of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and eventual replacement with Muhyiddin Yassin and a new Perikatan Nasional coalition, which maintained a small majority. Prime Minister Muhyiddin blamed the 2020 Sabah state election for a substantial increase in COVID-19 cases across the state and country.

In June 2021, the rulers of Malaysia declared that there is no need to extend a state of emergency after 1 August, and parliament should be reopened as soon as possible. The emergency has led to the suspension of all federal parliament and state assembly sittings and also by-elections, among other things, therefore by-elections will need to proceed after 1 August in Sarawak (assembly), (federal seat), (federal seat), Bugaya (Sabah state seat) and Melor (Kelantan state seat).

Restriction announcements A large outbreak at a Tablighi Jamaat religious event and the spread of the virus across the country were thought to have been exacerbated by the political instability, with the new Health Minister, Adham Baba criticizing his predecessor Dzulkefly Ahmad, although there was no clear government responsible at the time. Shortly after a thin government majority was established, the new government announced the nationwide Movement Control Order (MCO) to curb the spread of the virus.

Amid ongoing political instability, Yang di-Pertuan Agong warned politicians in May 2020 that he "would like to advise against dragging the country once again into a political mess that brings uncertainties" given the ongoing health crisis in the country. In January 2021, a State of Emergency was declared, suspending all elections and parliament, and the government were empowered to pass laws without oversight in response to the pandemic and ongoing political instability. This led to the resignation of MP Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub from the party, resulting in the loss of the government's required majority of at least 111 MPs in the Dewan Rakyat. Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim criticised the declaration, saying this was an effort for the government to maintain power and that 115 other MPs were against it.

Instances of isolation and testing

On 17 March 2020, Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen ( member of parliament) tested positive for COVID-19 and was quarantined at Sarawak General Hospital. He was suspected of having been infected with the virus after meeting Sarikei MP Wong Ling Biu who also tested positive for the virus. He was announced to have recovered on 23 March 2020. Another MP which is Chong Chieng Jen ( member of parliament) tested negative.

List of assemblymen who tested positive for COVID-19 Dewan Negara (Senators) Dewan Negara State/AppointedMemberPartyConfirmed Date Appointed Ahmad Masrizal Muhammad UMNO Idris Ahmad PAS Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri IND

Dewan Rakyat (Members of Parliament) Dewan Rakyat State No.Parliament ConstituencyMemberPartyConfirmed Date P001 Padang Besar Zahidi Zainul Abidin UMNO P030 Jeli Mustapa Mohamed BERSATU P032 Gua Musang Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah UMNO P047 Nibong Tebal Mansor Othman BERSATU P056 Larut Hamzah Zainudin BERSATU P061 Padang Rengas Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz UMNO P073 Pasir Salak Tajuddin Abdul Rahman UMNO P075 Bagan Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi UMNO P082 Indera Mahkota Saifuddin Abdullah BERSATU P119 Titiwangsa Rina Mohd. Harun BERSATU P156 Kota Tinggi Halimah Mohd. Sadique UMNO P180 Keningau Jeffrey Gapari Kitingan STAR P194 Petra Jaya Fadillah Yusof PBB P197 Kota Samarahan Rubiah Wang PBB P195 Bandar Kuching Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen DAP P208 Sarikei Wong Ling Biu DAP P211 Lanang Alice Lau Kiong Yieng DAP Total

Dewan Undangan Negeri (Malaysian State Assembly Representatives)

State legislative assemblies of Malaysia

Selangor State Legislative Assembly

Sabah State Legislative Assembly

Johor State Legislative Assembly

Kelantan State Legislative Assembly

Pahang State Legislative Assembly

Perlis State Legislative Assembly

Malacca State Legislative Assembly

Terengganu State Legislative Assembly

Kedah State Legislative Assembly

Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly

Sarawak State Legislative Assembly

StateNo.ParliamentaryConstituency No.State Assembly ConstituencyMemberParty P02Kangar N8 Indera Kayangan Gan Ay Ling PKR P17Padang Serai N34 Lunas Azman Nasruddin BERSATU P30Jeli N37 Air Lanas Mustapa Mohamed BERSATUP32Gua Musang N43 Nenggiri Ab. Aziz Yusoff UMNO N45 Galas Mohd. Syahbuddin Hashim UMNO P40Kemaman N30 Kijal Ahmad Said UMNO P81Jerantut N9 Tahan Mohd Zakhwan Ahmad Badarddin PASP89Bentong N35 Sabai Kamache Doray Rajoo DAP P97Selayang N14 Rawang Chua Wei Kiat PKRP105Petaling Jaya N33 Taman Medan Syamsul Firdaus Mohamed Supri PKRP106Damansara N35 Kampung Tunku Lim Yi Wei DAPP107Sungai Buloh N39 Kota Damansara Shatiri Mansor PKRP113Sepang N55 Dengkil Adhif Syan Abdullah BERSATU P132Port Dickson N33 Sri Tanjong Ravi Munasamy PKR P134Masjid Tanah N3 Ayer Limau Amiruddin Yusop UMNO P142Labis N5 Tenang Mohd. Solihan Badri BERSATUP146Muar N15 Maharani Nor Hayati Bachok AMANAHP149Sri Gading N21 Parit Yaani Amunolhuda Hassan AMANAHP153Sembrong N30 Paloh Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali DAP P168Kota Marudu N07 Tandek Hendrus Anding PBSP170Tuaran N12 Sulaman Hajiji Mohd Nor BERSATUP180Keningau N39 Tambunan Jeffrey Kitingan STAR N40 Bingkor Robert Tawik STARP188Lahad Datu N63 Kunak Norazlinah Arif WARISAN P198Puncak Borneo N19 Mambong Jerip Susil PBB Total

See also 2020–21 Malaysian political crisis 2021 Malaysian state of emergency Issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia Political impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

References