Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad resigns

Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia’s nonagenarian prime minister, has announced his resignation, threatening the future of the ruling coalition and plunging the south-east Asian country into political turmoil. The dramatic move throws into doubt the promise the veteran leader made to Anwar Ibrahim — his former foe turned ally — after the landslide election victory of their Pakatan Harapan coalition in 2018 when he said he would hand power to Mr. Anwar after “one or two years”.

Mr. Mahathir has already gone back on that pledge several times and it was not clear whether Monday’s announcement marked the end of the political career of one of south-east Asia’s longest-serving leaders or his latest political manoeuvre. He also resigned as chairman of his party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).

Deepening the political turmoil, Malaysia's Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali and Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin were both fired from Anwar's People's Justice Party earlier Monday. Nine other lawmakers declared their allegiance to the ousted pair and left the party as well, according to a statement from the lawmakers. The 11 lawmakers also announced that they are forming an independent block in parliament. 

It follows meetings over the weekend between lawmakers of the ruling coalition and members of the former ruling party United Malays National Organization (UMNO), over alleged plans to form a new government, according to local news reports. In response, Anwar called out "traitors" within his own party and accused members of Mahathir's party of plotting a change in the current ruling coalition. Speaking at his party headquarters Monday, Anwar said he had met with the Prime Minister and told him that, "this treachery could be dealt with together."  

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