The Malaysian Insight

PRIME Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has sent his resignation letter as prime minister to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong today, hours after a weekend of speculation that a new government would replace Pakatan Harapan.

It is understood the resignation letter has been been sent to the National Palace.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office at 2.20pm confirmed his resignation.

“The resignation letter was sent to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at 1pm today,” PMO said. 

His resignation comes at the same time Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin announced the party was leaving the ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition, a decision made at the Bersatu supreme council meeting yesterday.

Dr Mahathir is chairman of Bersatu, which has 26 MPs in the Dewan Rakyat. He was also PH chairman.

The nonagenarian Dr Mahathir, chaired the Bersatu meeting yesterday and went home to rest. He did not meet the King yesterday as initially speculated, and he did attend a dinner of opposition and certain PH MPs at the Sheraton Hotel in Petaling Jaya, purportedly to affirm his position as prime minister.

At around 10.45am today, he met Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, Amanah president Mohamed Sabu and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng at his residence in Seri Kembangan.

His resignation followed a short while later.

Anwar and Wan Azizah are scheduled to have an audience with the King this afternoon. – February 24, 2020.