As the country rings in the new year, FMT takes a look back at some of the biggest headlines from a long 2021.
The state of emergency
Less than two weeks into the new year, former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin addressed the nation to announce the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had consented to a national state of emergency.
Set to run from Jan 12 to Aug 1, emergency laws provided for Parliament to be suspended and the government assuming almost unfettered power to amend or create new laws.
Opposition members decried the move, which many claimed was an attempt by Muhyiddin to cling to power and avoid a confidence vote while his parliamentary majority was in question.
During the emergency period, people and companies were slapped with millions in new fines for SOP non-compliance. Controversial laws such as those targeting ‘fake news’ were promulgated.
Less than a week before it was set to end, then-de facto law minister Takiyuddin Hassan provided another twist in the story when he announced the government had decided to revoke the emergency ordinance.
Although it was merely a cabinet decision at the time, opposition lawmakers leapt at the chance to label the government as traitors for not consulting the King first. Justified or not, it was a stench Muhyiddin’s government never managed to rid itself of.
The vaccine rollout
While 2020 was fraught with uncertainty over how the country – and the world – would navigate the challenges posed by the virus, 2021 brought a glimmer of hope in the long awaited vaccines.
Things kicked off in February when Muhyiddin became the first person in Malaysia to get his jab, with others soon to follow.
The rollout began slowly, with critics taking aim at the low daily vaccination rates that persisted throughout most of the first half of the year.
However, from May onwards Malaysia’s vaccine programme went into overdrive, with well over 400,000 arms jabbed a day in July and August, one of the highest rates anywhere in the world.
On Sept 22, Malaysia managed to reach the long touted 80% vaccination rate among adults. While the health ministry has stopped using the term ‘herd immunity’ at this point, it still represented a landmark in the battle against Covid-19.
Malaysia will end the year having vaccinated over 97% of adults, with adolescents quickly catching up.
Return to lockdown
After a year of intermittent movement restrictions, many hoped 2021 would be different. After all, Muhyiddin had said in March that there would be no more nationwide lockdowns because of the economic destruction it would cause.
And yet, on May 12, the government imposed another as cases began to surge.
Just as in March 2020, most non-essential businesses and schools were shut and employees were asked to stay home and work remotely where possible.
Soon after, the government introduced the National Recovery Plan, which did away with all MCO variations and laid out the four stages of restrictions that states would need to go through before they could fully reopen.
All states except Kelantan and Sarawak are now in the final phase of the plan, with nearly all businesses allowed to operate. Those hoping for a raucous New Year’s Eve were disappointed however, with pubs and nightclubs yet to welcome back customers.
Another New Prime Minister
After months of debate over whether Muhyiddin still held his majority in the Dewan Rakyat, the Pagoh MP was finally toppled when 11 Umno MPs, including party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Najib Razak, pulled their support for his government in August.
Thus began the frantic game amongst MPs of collecting statutory declarations in support of the next premier.
Just four days after Muhyiddin’s resignation on Aug 16, his successor was found: Ismail Sabri Yaakob, the long time Bera MP and cabinet veteran most recently seen in his role as senior minister for security.
Stability was the order of the day, particularly since Ismail was the third man to assume the prime minister’s post in less than two years. He soon got Pakatan Harapan to sign a memorandum of understanding and agree not to oust him so long as he implemented sought-after reforms such as an anti-hopping law and Undi18.
States go to the polls
First came Melaka, triggered when four government assemblymen jumped ship in October.
Despite losing the allegiance of Perikatan Nasional, its erstwhile partner, Barisan Nasional secured a thumping victory with more than two-thirds of the state assembly seats.
A good omen for the coalition with the next general election in its sights? Some seemed to think so, suggesting that BN should take advantage of the momentum and push for early polls.
Then came the long overdue Sarawak state election, which had been put off due to concerns it would trigger another Covid-19 surge.
While the lead up was eerily tame compared to what was seen in Melaka, the results were far less surprising. Yet again, GPS crushed the opposition, taking 76 of the seats and leaving a measly six to be shared by DAP and PSB. PKR and Amanah were completely wiped out.
1MDB lives on
In yet another chapter of the 1MDB saga, former prime minister Najib Razak’s appeal against his conviction for various offences related to RM42 million in SRC International funds failed in December, with the Court of Appeal upholding all the earlier High Court rulings.
The decision put a serious dent in Najib’s comeback hopes; momentum had been building behind the Pekan MP following BN’s massive Melaka win where he was an instrumental player on the campaign trail.
He has filed an appeal with the Federal Court, which is his last hope for overturning his conviction. The case is expected to be heard next year, which would allow him to stand in a general election should his case not conclude before parliament is dissolved.
The floods
The year ended in tragic fashion. Rain that started on Friday Dec 17 pelted much of the central region, causing widespread flooding, with the Klang Valley and Pahang the worst hit.
Entire townships were nearly submerged. In Taman Sri Muda, Shah Alam, water reached as high as 4 metres (12 feet) in some areas.
More than a dozen people were killed and millions in damage caused. As of yesterday, 48 people have been confirmed dead.
The government’s response came under heavy scrutiny. It was accused of being slow to rescue victims or provide aid and different agencies pointed fingers at one another, distancing themselves from responsibility.
A silver lining, however, was the reminder of the goodness of the Rakyat. Ordinary citizens and NGOs shone in the aftermath, spearheading efforts to help those in need.
As the year ticks over, victims are still only just beginning the rebuilding process, and it is likely to continue well into 2022.