SINGAPORE -- The guilty verdict against former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak last week in connection with the 1MDB scandal threatens to weaken the ruling coalition's tenuous grip on power as his party hints at breaking ranks.
The United Malays National Organization said Thursday that it will not join current Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's political alliance, Perikatan Nasional, instead focusing on strengthening its partnership with the Malaysian Islamic Party, or PAS. While UMNO is not withdrawing from the coalition immediately and will continue to support Muhyiddin's government, it is signaling that it is keeping its distance.
