Iran Press/Asia: Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad announced his resignation on Monday paving the way for a possible formation of a new government; in a two-line statement that Mahathir has informed the country's king of his resignation at 1 pm Kuala Lumpur time.
The 94-year-old prime minister of Malaysia, and his perennial presumptive heir, Anwar Ibrahim, joined forces in 2018 to oust a governing party to which both had once belonged. That party, the United Malays National Organization, known as UMNO, was at the center of a scandal, the brazen looting of billions of dollars of Malaysia’s public funds.
After a flurry of meetings that had political analysts feverishly analyzing whose car was pulling up in which driveway, Mr. Mahathir submitted his letter of resignation as prime minister on Monday afternoon.
The tussle between old rivals Mahathir, 94, and Anwar, 72, is the latest chapter in the long-running political saga between two of the country's most prominent political figures.
At least 112 votes from members of the 222-seat parliament are necessary to form a new government.
If Malaysia’s constitutional monarch accepts the resignation letter, the two vying political blocs in the country both appear to support Mr. Mahathir continuing as prime minister, finishing with Anwar.
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