Malay King Names Anwar Ibrahim Prime Minister

Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been named the country’s 10th prime minister ON Nov. 24, 2022, ending a five-day wait for Malaysians following the 15th general election, Shahrin Aizat Noorshahrizam reported for Malay Mail.

Photo Insert: Anwar is expected to lead a unity government.

The comptroller of the Royal Household of Istana Negara, Datuk Seri Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin, said Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah had consented to the appointment, which was made in accordance with Article 40(2)(a) and Article 43(2)(a) of the Federal Constitution.

The appointment by the Malaysian king was finalized after he sought the opinions of the Malay rulers who convened a special meeting at Istana Negara today to make the best decision for the interest and well-being of the country and the people, he said.

The PKR president, who also was just elected Tambun MP, will be sworn in at 5 pm today in front of the Agong.

Anwar is expected to lead a unity government. Anwar's Pakatan Harapan, or Alliance of Hope, topped the race with 82 parliamentary seats, short of the 112 needed for a majority, even as he gained three more seats when a small party backed his bid to be prime minister.

Former Prime Minister Muhyiddin’s Malay-centric Perikatan Nasional, or National Alliance, won 73 seats.

In the morning of Nov. 24, the Associated Press (AP) reported Anwar had edged closer to becoming Malaysia's next prime minister after the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), which has 30 seats, reversed its decision to remain in the opposition, saying it will heed the king's proposal for a unity government.

UMNO's secretary-general Ahmad Maslan said Thursday the party's highest decision-making body has decided to now support a unity government that is not led by Muhyiddin's camp.

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