Ismail Sabri Yaqoub, a member of the United Malay National Organization (UMNO), which has ruled Malaysia for six decades, was appointed on Friday as prime minister.

The royal palace said in a statement that the 61-year-old veteran Malaysian politician had the support of a majority of parliament members and was appointed by Sultan Abdullah Shah as prime minister “according to the constitution”. “The king hopes that the political turmoil in the country will end with the appointment of the new prime minister,” he added.

It is expected that Ismail Sabri Yacoub will be sworn in on Saturday.

His predecessor, Muhyiddin Yassin, resigned Monday after 17 months in power, after losing the majority in Parliament amid discontent with his management of the Covid-19 crisis.

The new prime minister belongs to the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), which ruled Malaysia for six decades before losing the 2018 elections in the wake of corruption scandals.

This party participated in the last coalition government. But the arrival of Ismail Sabri Yaqoub to power indicates that this powerful historical party is regaining power without elections, as it was postponed due to the health situation.