Malaysian king installs Mahathir as interim Prime Minister, after his shock resignation deepens political tumult
- Mahathir also resigned as chairman of the Bersatu party, capping a weekend of political manoeuvring by assorted politicians that his presumptive successor Anwar Ibrahim described as a betrayal
- These developments do not mean a snap poll is imminent, observers say
Malaysia’s king on Monday accepted Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s shock resignation but reappointed him as the interim premier, following two days of tense political turmoil surrounding the future of the ruling alliance that staged a historic election victory less than two years ago.
The events capped a tumultuous 12 hours that first left Malaysians collectively watching on the sidelines in horror and intrigue at behind-the-scenes political jockeying, and then feeling temporary relief as the 94-year-old statesman retained the top political job – for now at least.
Mahathir will serve in this role temporarily until a new prime minister is appointed and a cabinet formed, in accordance with the constitution, the government’s chief secretary Mohd Zuki Ali said in a statement.
In a subsequent statement, Zuki said the duties of all other ministers, deputy ministers and political secretaries had ceased with immediate effect.
Mahathir had handed in his resignation to Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah earlier on Monday as a rift between the prime minister’s loyalists and those supporting his presumptive successor Anwar Ibrahim boiled over.
