72 Facts About Muhyiddin Yassin

Muhyiddin Yassin grew up in the state of Johor and joined the state public service after graduating from University of Malaya.

Muhyiddin Yassin was appointed to the Cabinet as Minister of Youth and Sports.

Muhyiddin Yassin was appointed Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs after the 1999 general election and became a vice president of UMNO in 2000.

Under the premiership of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Muhyiddin Yassin served as Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry from 2004 to 2008, and then as Minister of International Trade and Industry from 2008 to 2009.

Muhyiddin Yassin attracted controversy after describing himself as "Malay first" when challenged by the Opposition to pronounce himself as "Malaysian first".

Muhyiddin Yassin was a vocal critic of his government and party over the 1MDB scandal; as a result, he was dropped from his position during Najib's mid-term cabinet reshuffle in July 2015, marking the first incumbent UMNO deputy president to be left out of the president's cabinet.

Muhyiddin Yassin participated in founding the political party Malaysian United Indigenous Party under Mahathir in 2016.

Muhyiddin Yassin returned to the cabinet after his coalition of parties Pakatan Harapan won the 2018 Malaysian general election.

Muhyiddin Yassin remained caretaker Prime Minister until his replacement Ismail Sabri Yaakob was selected on 21 August 2021.

Muhyiddin Yassin unsuccessfully ran as the prime ministerial candidate for Perikatan Nasional in the 2022 general election.

In March 2023, Muhyiddin Yassin was arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission as part of a corruption investigation on several counts of money laundering and abuse of power, making him the second former prime minister after Najib Razak to be prosecuted.

Muhyiddin Yassin's father, Haji Muhammad Yassin bin Muhammad, was a Malay of Bugis descent.

Muhammad Muhyiddin Yassin was an Islamic theologian and cleric based in Bandar Maharani, Muar, Johor, while his mother, Hajjah Khadijah binti Kassim, was a Malay of Javanese descent.

Muhyiddin Yassin received his primary education at Sekolah Kebangsaan Maharani, Muar, Johor, and Sekolah Kebangsaan Ismail, Muar, Johor.

Muhyiddin Yassin received his secondary education at the Muar High School, Johor.

Muhyiddin Yassin received Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Malay studies in 1971.

Muhyiddin Yassin left the civil service to join the corporate sector in the Johor State Economic Development Corporation, managing its subsidiary companies like Sergam Berhad as managing director, Equity Mal Sdn Bhd as Director, Sri Saujana Berhad as managing director and SGS Ates Sdn Bhd as Human Resources Manager.

Muhyiddin Yassin was elected as UMNO youth chief of the Pagoh division and the secretary in 1976.

Muhyiddin Yassin occupied the seats of Exco in the national Malaysia UMNO Youth.

In 1984, Muhyiddin Yassin was elected the UMNO division chief of Pagoh, replacing Othman Saat.

Muhyiddin Yassin rose the ranks and file of Johor UMNO quickly.

Muhyiddin Yassin contested and was elected Member of Parliament for the Pagoh constituency in the 1978 general election and kept the seat until 1982.

Muhyiddin Yassin was appointed Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs; subsequently, he was promoted to Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Federal Territories and later the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

In 1984, Muhyiddin Yassin contested a UMNO Supreme Council seat but lost.

Muhyiddin Yassin was later appointed the UMNO Johor state liaison chairman and next appointed a Supreme Council member.

Muhyiddin Yassin attempted again in the November 1993 UMNO party election, successfully this time.

Muhyiddin Yassin returned to contest the Pagoh parliamentary seat in the 1995 General Election.

Muhyiddin Yassin served several different federal government cabinet posts as Minister of Youth and Sports, Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry and Minister of International Trade and Industry.

Muhyiddin Yassin was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education by Prime Minister Najib Razak in 2009.

Muhyiddin Yassin lost the 1996 election when defending the vice-president post.

Muhyiddin Yassin was challenged by Mohd Ali Rustam, Malacca chief minister, and Muhammad Muhammad Taib, Rural and Regional Development Minister.

Muhyiddin Yassin, seen as a supporter of Mahathir Mohamad, was seen to be the front-runner for the race, garnering many nominations by the UMNO divisions.

Muhyiddin Yassin was appointed deputy prime minister on 9 April 2009, when Najib took over from Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and unveiled his first Cabinet.

Muhyiddin Yassin waded into controversy in March 2010 by stating he was "Malay first" rather than "Malaysian first".

Muhyiddin Yassin said that there is nothing wrong with other races doing the same; for example, the Chinese could claim themselves to be "Chinese first, Malaysian second" and same for the Indians.

Prime Minister Najib came to Muhyiddin Yassin's defence, denying that his statement was inconsistent with the "1Malaysia" concept promoted by the government.

The dismissal came after Muhyiddin Yassin had made public and critical remarks about Najib's handling of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal.

Muhyiddin Yassin remained UMNO deputy president, but after keeping up criticism of UMNO, he was eventually sacked by the party's supreme council in June 2016.

Muhyiddin Yassin remained unrepentant, maintaining that he had never betrayed the party and pledging to continue speaking out.

Muhyiddin Yassin became the party's president while Mahathir and his son Mukhriz Mahathir became the chairman and deputy president.

Muhyiddin Yassin's announcement was unanimously rejected by the party supreme council and attracted strong opposition from the AGM delegates.

Muhyiddin Yassin was appointed as Malaysian Minister of Home Affairs by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad when Pakatan Harapan won the 14th General Election.

On 22 May 2018, Muhyiddin Yassin announced The Home Ministry will review seven laws relating to national security that were no longer suitable in today's landscape.

Muhyiddin Yassin said these laws were the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, Sedition Act 1948, Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, Prevention of Crime Act 1959, Security Offences Act 2012, Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015, and mandatory death sentence.

On 16 to 21 September 2019, Muhyiddin Yassin visited the United States to boost security ties.

On 29 February 2020, a week after the country was thrown into a political crisis, Muhyiddin Yassin was appointed Prime Minister by the King of Malaysia, following the abrupt resignation of Mahathir Mohamad five days before.

Muhyiddin Yassin is the first person appointed to the position while holding both a parliamentary and state seat at the same time.

On 8 July 2021, UMNO withdrew support for Muhyiddin Yassin and called for his resignation in July 2021 over the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On 4 August 2021, Putrajaya, Muhyiddin Yassin submitted a motion of confidence to the Yang di Pertuan Agong of Malaysia stating that he had received numerous declarations which provided that he still had the majority support within the lower house of parliament Dewan Rakyat.

On 15 August 2021, Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof, the Minister of the Prime Minister's Department, stated that Muhyiddin Yassin would resign on the next day.

On 4 September 2021, Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Zuki Ali announced that Muhyiddin Yassin had been appointed as Chairman of the National Recovery Council, a Cabinet minister-level position and highest position in the important council in charge of the recovery efforts of the COVID-19 pandemic based on confidence of the government in the ability of Muhyiddin Yassin in spearheading the COVID-19 pandemic recovery strategies.

However, Muhyiddin Yassin continued to insist that he had the support of a majority of 115 MPs to form the next government and called on Anwar to prove his majority.

Muhyiddin Yassin's actions have been strongly criticized by the federal opposition led by Lim Kit Siang as it was a misuse of his powers as deputy prime minister.

On 31 March 2010, Muhyiddin Yassin attracted contr declaring himself as a "Malay first" rather than a "Malaysian first" when responding to Democratic Action Party leader Lim Kit Siang's challenge in the parliament for him to state whether he is a Malay or a Malaysian first.

However, Muhyiddin Yassin retorted although he is Malay first, that doesn't mean he being Malay is not Malaysian.

Muhyiddin Yassin was quick to deny he ever say that and stated he was misquoted.

Muhyiddin Yassin later doubled down and uttered 'Yes, I am Malay first and no apologies'.

Muhyiddin Yassin's remarks was condemned as religiously insensitive by the Council of Churches of Malaysia.

Muhyiddin Yassin defended himself and claimed that he was taken out of context by saying that his speech was 55 minutes long, and that the remark was only 1 minute and 35 seconds long.

Muhyiddin Yassin claimed he was merely commenting on a supposed video clip that allegedly showed "foreign religious groups" praying for Pakatan Harapan to win.

On 9 March 2023, Muhyiddin Yassin was detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission after being questioned over a COVID-19 economic recovery package launched by his government.

Muhyiddin Yassin was accused of sourcing $51m in bribes from companies who hoped to benefit from the emergency government spending program, and charged with gratification and money laundering.

Muhyiddin Yassin allegedly abused his position for gratification from three entities and an individual for his ally, Bersatu.

Muhyiddin Yassin claimed he knew the aforementioned charges were politically motivated from the very beginning and insisted he has not committed any wrongdoings under the law.

On 27 August 2024, Muhyiddin Yassin pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court to charges of uttering seditious statements during the Nenggiri state assembly by-election campaign.

Muhyiddin Yassin faced accusations related to remarks made at an open area near Semai Bakti Felda Perasu Hall, Gua Musang, on 14 August 2024.

Muhyiddin Yassin married Noorainee Abdul Rahman in 1972 and has 4 children; 2 sons and 2 daughters, namely Fakhri Yassin Mahiaddin, Nabilah Mahiaddin, Najwa Mahiaddin and Farhan Yassin Mahiaddin respectively.

Muhyiddin Yassin's son, Fakhri Yassin, was a corporate figure in Malaysia and assumed the position of Executive Chairman.

The second child, Nabilah was involved in book writing while Najwa and Farhan Muhyiddin Yassin shared the same interest in the entertainment industry.

Muhyiddin Yassin had spent one month in Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Singapore from July to August 2018, during which he underwent a surgery to extract the tumour.

Muhyiddin Yassin was scheduled for a series of follow-up chemotherapy treatment after Hari Raya Haji, for up to six months.

On 22 May 2020, Muhyiddin Yassin entered into a 14-day quarantine after an officer who attended the post-Cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office on 21 May tested positive for COVID-19.