Malaysia's new PM Ismail Sabri Yaakob faces tall task in uniting polarised society

Malaysia's new Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob was sworn in on Saturday. He faces a distrustful public, amid popular anger over the previous government's inconsistent policies and perceived failure in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic.

Malaysia's new Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob was sworn in Saturday, bringing back the rule of the country's longest-governing political party, but he faces a tall task in uniting a polarised society and reviving a slumping economy amid a worsening pandemic. Ismail was the deputy prime minister under the government of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who resigned Monday after less than 18 months in office as infighting in his coalition cost him majority support.