He is also widely regarded as a key figure in the 2020–2022 Malaysian political crisis, playing an important role in the fall of the PH federal government in February 2020.
In early 2014, PKR's national leader, Anwar Ibrahim, then a federal parliamentarian sought to contest the Selangor State Assembly seat of Kajang in a by-election.
PKR, with the DAP's support, nominated Wan Azizah to replace him, but both the Sultan of Selangor (who appoints the Menteri Besar) and the third coalition party, PAS, sought other options.
[11] Azmin was once again reelected as the Menteri Besar of Selangor in the aftermath of 2018 Malaysian general election after defending his Bukit Antarabangsa state seat.
[15][16][17] On the morning of 23 February 2020, Azmin held a meeting with several lawmakers from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and twenty others at Sheraton Hotel, Petaling, amidst the rumour of a formation of a new coalition at the parliament of Malaysia.
[18] He and his faction in PKR, went to the Istana Negara on the evening to seek a meeting with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Abdullah of Pahang.
Leaders from other five political parties; Bersatu's Muhyiddin Yassin, UMNO's Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, GPS's Abang Johari Openg, Warisan's Shafie Apdal and PAS's Hadi Awang were also in attendance.
[19] It was speculated that the leaders were there to brief the Agong about the recent political development; formation of a new coalition government and to declare their support for a new prime minister, effectively blocking PKR's president Anwar Ibrahim from the position.
[20][21] After the meeting, several opposition party leaders, including UMNO's Ismail Sabri Yaakob and PAS' Hadi Awang then joined Azmin's supporters at Sheraton Hotel.
[23] Saifuddin explained that they were expelled due to their actions on 23 October which was against the party's principle regarding the position of prime minister.
[24] Azmin later announced that he will be forming an independent bloc at the parliament along with Zuraida and other nine MPs who had decided to exit the party following his expulsion.
[citation needed] He was named as one of the four senior ministers alongside Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Fadillah Yusof and Mohd Radzi Md Jidin in Muhyiddin cabinet on 9 March 2020.
[29] In late 2011, Israeli private detective Tamir Mori ordered the mercenary Indian hack-for-hire firm Appin to hack more than 40 targets, including Azmin.
[30][31] On 12 June 2019, it was reported that Azmin was filmed being intimate with another man, his own political aide Haziq Abdul Aziz, in a video circulating on social media.
[33] Until 16 July 2019, nine people had been arrested by Royal Malaysia Police in the investigation regarding their involvement in making and distribution of the lewd video, including Haziq who had admitted he was the person in the video, and Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak who is PKR Perak state chairman and is also Anwar Ibrahim's political secretary.
[37] While serving as a Selangor State Assembly back-bencher, Azmin highlighted cases of corruption linked to land and forest matters.
Following the political infighting within Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional Government, Bersatu President Muhyiddin Yassin together with PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang and PKR's defected members led by Azmin Ali formed the Perikatan Nasional and worked alongside UMNO leader Ismail Sabri Yaakob to fill the power vacuum after the resignation of then-Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
Ten registered voters in the Gombak parliamentary constituency have filed a suit against their parliament member, Mohamed Azmin Ali.