Muhyiddin Yassin, Malaysia's newest prime minister, made his first public address on Monday night, March 2.

He asked Malaysians to give his government a chance to prove itself, as he denied he betrayed Mahathir Mohamad, the former number one.

Muhyiddin, who is Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president, called for reconciliation in his speech broadcast over national television.

Muhyiddin said: "I am a prime minister for all Malaysians from Perlis to Sabah. Whatever race or ethnicity, I am your Prime Minister. Give me a chance to use my 40 years of experience in politics and government to steer Malaysia to glory."

Muhyiddin explained in his speech that he did not “dream of the post of prime minister”.

He said he had supported Mahathir to return as PM again.

But after the 94-year-old statesman failed to gain the majority backing of MPs, Muhyiddin said he was nominated for the post by Bersatu and other parties.

“I met with Tun Dr Mahathir... and witnessed by two other party leaders, he said he was prepared to make way for me if I had the majority,” he said.

Backdoor government accusations

Not even a-fifth of MPs in the Perikatan Nasional (National Alliance) that Muhyiddin now leads were voted in under a Pakatan Harapan ticket during the 2018 general election.

Muhyiddin stands accused of forming a "backdoor" government by returning to power those cast off previously by voters.

But Muhyiddin said: “I know there are those angry with me. As expected, some have called me a traitor. My conscience is clear that I am here to save the country from a prolonged crisis”.

He also addressed concerns that some Umno leaders facing face hundreds of graft charges collectively will now be part of his government.

“I promise to appoint a Cabinet of individuals who are clean, with integrity and of calibre. My government will also prioritise efforts to increase integrity and good governance,” he said.

What happened

Two coalitions in Malaysia were engaged in political wrangling a week ago and were at the cusp of power.

Muhyiddin's allies pulled through following a bodacious attempt to grab power by prematurely declaring a simple majority, with subsequent accusations of betrayal flung across the political divide.

The PM's Bersatu faction has joined then opposition parties Umno and Parti Islam SeMalaysia, and a rebel group from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), effectively cratering the ruling Pakatan Harapan government.

The new coalition is called Perikatan Nasional.