WorldKUALA LUMPUR, AFP -Opponents of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak applied Tuesday to register a new political party in an attempt to challenge the leader over a massive financial scandal. Muhyiddin Yassin, who was sacked as deouty prime minister by Najib last year, submitted the application for the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, or United Malaysian People's Party. Former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, a trenchant critic of Najib, is expected to become the chairman, Muhyiddin's aides said. Party officials said they were not sure how long it would take for their registration to be approved by authorities, who have the power to refuse to do so. Ibrahim Suffian, head of independent polling firm Merdeka Centre, told AFP the new party “could well present a credible challenge” if it can work with the other opposition parties.

Source: Sunday Times August 09, 2016 09:56 UTC