'Chaos' in Malaysian politics as both sides fight over the same PM

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia's political crisis has entered a third day, with the entire country waiting to see when - or if - the 94-year-old Mahathir Mohamad will be reinstated as prime minister of a different government to the one he led at the start of the week.

Dr Mahathir, who was the country's prime minister from 1981-2003 and again from 2018 until 2020, shocked the country and resigned on Monday.

He was appointed interim prime minister by Malaysia's Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, just hours after resigning. At the time of writing, he was effectively a one person government.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad leaves after meeting with King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.Credit: AP

Mahathir's resignation was triggered after a rupture in the former coalition government, Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) as a breakaway group of MPs from parties within the coalition looked to join forces with the opposition and seize power - while keeping Mahathir as leader.

It is not clear whether what is left of the Pakatan Harapan coalition, which comprises the PKR, DAP and Amanah parties, will muster the 112 seat majority to hang on to power. Nor is it clear if the group of PKR and Bersatu MPs who were in government, and who are looking to join with the opposition parties UMNO and the Islamist PAS party can claim 112 seats either.

In an Australian context, these machinations are the equivalent of the Coalition and Labor both trying to form government with an elder statesman such as John Howard as their chosen prime minister.

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad speaks during a press conference in Putrajaya, Malaysia.Credit: AP

A senior MP from PKR, who asked not to be named so he could speak freely, described the situation in one word: "chaos".

In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, the MP said: "At the heart of the matter is whether Dr Mahathir is going to lead Paktan Harapan again, whether to kiss and make up, or is he actually plotting another government?"

"It’s not clear at all. There are rumours by the minute, MPs having second thoughts. But there is a general belief it will be resolved by Friday."

Warisan and GPS, two parties from Eastern Malaysia on the island of Borneo, could effectively decide whether the opposition forces or the broken Pakatan Harapan coalition can form government.

Anwar Ibrahim, the head of PKR who was on a promise from Mahathir that he would be handed the prime ministership within two to three years of the historic 2018 election win, has insisted Mahathir won't support the Malay-nationalist opposition.

But senior opposition figures including Azmin Ali - who was Anwar's deputy in PKR until being sacked a day ago - and members of UMNO were seen visiting Mahathir in the prime minister's office on Tuesday.

DAP MP Ong Kian Ming, who was deputy trade minister in the Pakatan Harapan government, said that Pakatan Harapan could count on 102 MPs so far - short of the required figure of 112 - but the opposition could not claim 112 yet, either.

"We are trying to see if we can reach a head count where we can show the King that we have the majority to form a government. The other side are trying to do the same with Dr Mahathir as Prime Minister too," he said.

"It all depends on Dr Mahathir ... and of course Dr Mahathir's thinking isn't clear."

On Tuesday morning, Malaysia's Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and Attorney-General Tommy Thomas met with the King to discuss the crisis.

The King will hold meetings of just a few minutes each with all 222 MPs from the lower house over the next two days to canvas each member on who they support as the next prime minister.

The Pakatan Harapan's leadership was due to meet late on Tuesday evening to discuss the political impasse.

Constitutional lawyer Malik Imtiaz said the situation was unprecedented and the King had two options - determining which group of MPs had a majority through his meetings, or allowing one group to attempt to test its majority claim on the floor of parliament in a sitting on March 9.

"If no clear majority can be discerned than I would think he would receive advice to dissolve parliament, with an election to soon follow."