PUTRAJAYA: Newly-minted Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin arrived at Perdana Putra here at 7.55am today to clock in for his first day in office.
Clad in a blue suit, Muhyiddin was greeted by Chief Secretary to the government, Datuk Seri Mohd Zuki Ali, and other officials.
Earlier, Armed Forces chief General Tan Sri Affendi Buang and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador were seen arriving at the building.
Muhyiddin’s first official duty will be meeting with Zuki, after a photocall.
The Pagoh Member of Parliament will then leave for Muar, Johor to visit his family cemetery and perform afternoon prayers.
Muhyiddin, who is Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president, will return to his office for a meeting with Hamid at 4.30pm, followed by Affendi an hour later.
Yesterday, Muhyiddin took his oath of office as the country’s eight prime minister before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, at Istana Negara.
On Feb 29, the Comptroller of the Royal Household, Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin, announced Muhyiddin’s appointment as Prime Minister, bringing to a conclusion a week of political uncertainty surrounding a leadership crisis in the federal administration.
His appointment was made after the King determined that Muhyiddin was “most likely to command a majority” after granting an audience to all political party leaders and independent Members of Parliament.
Muhyiddin’s appointment as Prime Minister was made in accordance with Article 40(2)(a) and Article 43(2)(a) of the Federal Constitution.
His predecessor; Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, resigned as premier on Feb 24.
Muhyiddin had served as Johor Menteri Besar from 1986 to 1995; as well as Minister of Youth and Sports; Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs; Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry; Minister of International Trade and Industry; Minister of Education; and Minister of Education I, from 1995 to 2015.
He was appointed as the 10th Deputy Prime Minister in 2009, but was dropped from his position on July 28, 2015 as part of former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s mid-term Cabinet reshuffle.
Muhyiddin was appointed Home Minister after Pakatan Harapan came into power after the 14th General Election.