Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Establishment Stalwart, Becomes Malaysia's New PM

Ismail Sabri Yaakob was named prime minister Friday after the collapse of Muhyiddin Yassin's administration this week.

Malaysia's incoming premier Ismail Sabri Yaakob is a veteran politician from the country's longest-ruling party, but analysts say he is a stop-gap leader with little chance of ending long-running turbulence. The 61-year-old was named prime minister Friday after the collapse of Muhyiddin Yassin's administration this week, and is Malaysia's third new premier in less than four years. He is from the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the main party in a coalition that governed Malaysia for decades after independence. Relatively low profile most of his career, he rose to greater prominence during Muhyiddin's 17-month administration.