In March 2020, amidst a political upheaval, Muhyiddin Yassin was appointed Malaysia's eighth Prime Minister following Mahathir Mohamad's sudden resignation. He led the new Perikatan Nasional coalition government. Shortly after taking office, the COVID-19 pandemic hit Malaysia, prompting Muhyiddin to enforce the Malaysian movement control order (MCO) in March 2020 to curb its spread. This period also saw former Prime Minister Najib Razak being convicted on charges of corruption in July 2020, marking the first time a Malaysian Prime Minister faced such a conviction.

The year 2021 brought additional challenges for Muhyiddin's administration. In January, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong declared a national state of emergency, halting parliamentary sessions and elections, and allowing the government to enact laws without legislative approval due to the ongoing pandemic and political instability. Despite these challenges, the government rolled out a national COVID-19 vaccination program in February. However, in March, diplomatic relations between Malaysia and North Korea were severed after a North Korean businessman's extradition appeal to the U.S. was denied by the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

By August 2021, the political and health crises intensified, with Muhyiddin facing widespread criticism for the government's handling of the pandemic and the economic downturn. This resulted in him losing the majority support in parliament. Consequently, Muhyiddin resigned as Prime Minister on August 16, 2021. Following his resignation, he was designated as the caretaker Prime Minister by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong until a suitable successor was chosen.