Malaysia’s opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to be next prime minister
ISTANBUL (AA) – Malaysia’s Council of Rulers on Thursday decided to back opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim as the country’s 10th prime minister.
The decision came after a meeting of the nine-member Council of Rulers, led by King Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, in Kuala Lumpur after days of political deadlock.
Anwar Ibrahim, 75, has been a deputy prime minister.
Results of Malaysia’s 15th general elections held on Nov. 19 threw up a hung parliament with Ibrahim-led Alliance of Hope, or Pakatan Harapan (PH), securing most seats in the parliament.
The PH secured 82 seats while former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin-led National Alliance or Perikatan Nasional (PN) got 73 seats.
The King had met the two leaders on Tuesday and suggested a unity government, but Yassin rejected it.
Later, the monarch called eight other council members for a meeting to end the deadlock.
Support from the National Front, or Barisan Nasional (BN), with 30 lawmakers, is seen to be a decisive factor in the new setup.
Another bloc Sarawak Parties Alliance, or Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), with 23 seats had indicated it would support the Yassin-led group but was indecisive.
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