KUALA LUMPUR: With the resignation of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the prime minister, it is now up to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah to decide on what is next.
Constitutional expert Prof Dr Nik Ahmad Kamal Nik Mahmod said should the premier advised the King to dissolve parliament before his resignation, this resignation is already a trigger to do so.
“However, if there is no such advice and since the Constitution does not provide a clear answer to that, what has become the possibility would be for the King to find out which party; or person; or political leader that has the majority in Parliament.
“With Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) leaving Pakatan Harapan, the coalition has lost the majority. Then the new bloc can present to the King that they have the majority and request for the appointment of a new prime minister,” he said.
“However, if the King finds that there is no simple majority, then the King would need to call for the dissolution of Parliament.”
The Prime Minister's Office in a statement today has confirmed that Dr Mahathir has submitted his resignation letter to the King at 1pm.
Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in a press statement today announced that the party has officially left PH, with all members of Parliament from Bersatu also leaving the coalition.
He said the decision was made after taking into account the current political climate and the country's future.
PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali and vice president Zuraida Kamaruddin have also been sacked from the party.
This morning, a meeting was held between Dr Mahathir and PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu at the premier’s house in Seri Kembangan.