The swearing-in of Ismail Sabri Yaakob as the country's ninth prime minister scheduled this afternoon marks the return of Umno to power, barely three years after it was defeated for the first time in a general election.

Ismail was also the deputy prime minister in Muhyiddin Yassin's Perikatan Nasional cabinet, which was deemed by some as a government that has failed to manage the country well, particularly in battling the Covid-19 pandemic and economic crisis that it brought about.

Several activists known for their role in fighting for a better Malaysia shared with Malaysiakini their scepticism on the new government that is to be formed...