KUALA LUMPUR — Interim Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad held meetings with leaders of different political parties at his office on Tuesday (Feb 25), said the Prime Minister’s Office in a statement.

According to the statement, Dr Mahathir met Sarawak Chief Minister and head of GPS ruling pact Abang Johari Openg, Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, Umno president and Barisan Nasional chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu.

He also met sacked PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali, who now leads a pact of 11 independent MPs.

The prime minister is expected to meet Warisan president and Sabah Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal on Wednesday.

No details of the meetings were stated.

The meetings are taking place while Malaysian King Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah is interviewing MPs one-by-one from Tuesday onwards to help him decide who should succeed Dr Mahathir as the prime minister.

The ruler will meet a group of 90 MPs starting 2.30pm on Tuesday, and the remainder on Wednesday.

Malaysian politics is in turmoil following Dr Mahathir’s resignation as prime minister on Monday.

The situation worsened after Bersatu pulled out of Pakatan Harapan, leaving the pact without a majority in Parliament.

While PKR, DAP and Amanah are trying to honour the mandate given by voters in the 2018 elections, PAS and Umno are working with Mr Muhyiddin and Mr Azmin to form a new government.

On Monday, the king accepted Dr Mahathir’s resignation — and with it the dissolution of the cabinet — but appointed him interim prime minister until a new administration is formed.

While Dr Mahathir is the front runner to lead the nation, other names said to be on the list include Mr Anwar and Mr Muhyiddin. THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT