What is perikatan nasional?

Perikatan Nasional is a political coalition formed in Malaysia in February 2020. It was assembled by the ruling party of the time, Barisan Nasional (National Front), along with several opposition parties, including Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu). The coalition was formed in response to the political crisis that erupted when Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad abruptly resigned from office. The Perikatan Nasional coalition succeeded in taking over the government, with Muhyiddin Yassin becoming the new Prime Minister on 1 March 2020. The coalition has faced criticism for its alleged lack of legitimacy, as it was formed without a general election and without the support of the majority of elected representatives. The government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has also been controversial, with critics claiming that it has been slow to respond and has not done enough to support struggling businesses and workers.