Protesters at a demonstration in Kuala POLITICAL WEDNESDAY Lumpur yesterday against the naming Even as the King meets the remaining MPs of Tan Sri as FACTIONS at the National Palace, Dr Mahathir appears 's next prime minister. on national television and says he is seeking • Pakatan Harapan (PH), to form a unity government of individuals three-party coalition that won who will set aside party politics and power in May 2018. ideology. PH consists of: But Mr Anwar (right) says all 92 PH MPs • Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), back him as premier candidate, distancing led by Datuk Seri . the coalition from Dr Mahathir’s plan for a • Democratic Action Party (DAP), government that includes all parties. led by Mr . • Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah), THURSDAY led by Mr . Dr Mahathir agrees to return as Bersatu chairman, and says Parliament will meet on days PH’s former fourth member was • March 2 to allow lawmakers to vote on Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia whether they want him or Mr Anwar to be (Bersatu), whose president is Tan the prime minister. Dr Mahathir says he is of Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. There is an con dent he has the minimum support internal tussle over whether from 112 MPs to continue as premier. Tun Dr is still PH, meanwhile, rejects Dr Mahathir’s plan Bersatu’s chairman. Former minister for a government that abandons PH’s Azmin Ali left PKR with nine other coalition manifesto, while Umno briefs its twists turns MPs to join Bersatu. & 191 divisional chiefs on preparations for fresh polls. Malaysia’s King, Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin, yesterday named • (BN) is a Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin as the next prime minister, three-party coalition led by Umno. FRIDAY SATURDAY The BN chairman and Umno Morning Interim PM Mahathir says he is con dent after a week of political tumult, with surprising twists and turns. president is Mr Ahmad Zahid The Conference of Rulers meets the King to 9.24am he has the numbers needed to garner It remains unclear if the appointment will resolve the entanglement, Hamidi. discuss the political crisis. The King, by this majority support in Parliament. time, has the numbers on how many MPs because Pakatan Harapan, which suddenly nds itself out of power, • BN’s other members are the support Dr Mahathir or Mr Anwar, and how PH coalition declares its support for Malaysian Chinese Association many MPs have told him to dissolve 9.30am Dr Mahathir as its candidate for prime wants to appeal against the decision to the King. (MCA) and the Malaysian Indian Parliament for new elections to be minister, decrying efforts to install a Congress (MIC). called to resolve the impasse. “backdoor government involving kleptocrats and traitors”. Bersatu’s Mr Muhyiddin, PAS chief Abdul SUNDAY, FEB 23 MONDAY Parti SeMalaysia (PAS) has • Hadi Awang, PAS secretary-general Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s Bersatu, Umno and then PKR Bersatu, with 26 MPs then, quits the ruling PH a political pact with BN. PAS is led 10.00am and Umno president deputy president Azmin Ali and his supporters hold separate coalition and 11 PKR MPs leave the party. PH collapses by president . meetings, sparking speculation that they are planning to as it needs at least 112 of the total 222 lawmakers in head to the National form a backdoor government, to exclude the remaining Parliament to remain as the government. Palace for an audience with the King. • Gabungan Parti (GPS) They leave after 40 minutes. three PH parties. This follows unending bickering over when Dr Mahathir resigns as prime minister and Bersatu is an alliance of four parties in the Dr Mahathir (below) should hand over the Malaysian prime chairman. The King accepts his resignation but East Malaysian state. GPS is led Mr Anwar enters the ministership to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. appoints him interim prime minister until a new leader by chairman Abang Johari Openg. is chosen. The King, on the advice of the Prime 1.52pm National Palace, leaving Minister, dissolves all Cabinet appointments. 10 minutes later. PH leaders announce their support for Dr Mahathir • Parti Warisan (Warisan) was to remain as prime minister. Mr Anwar says Dr an ally of PH when it was in power Mr Anwar tweets that he Mahathir was not involved in the political plot. and controls Sabah state, and is 2.30pm has handed over a letter led by president Sha e Apdal. to the Palace stating that PH now supports Dr Mahathir instead of Mr Anwar for the position of PM. TUESDAY The King, Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin (left), The King announces begins one-on-one interviews with Afternoon 4.33pm that he appoints lawmakers to determine who they want as Malaysia’s Parliament Speaker Mohamad Mr Muhyiddin (right) the next prime minister, and whether Ariff Mohamad Yusof (above), dismissing as Malaysia’s 8th prime minister. Parliament should be dissolved or a new Dr Mahathir’s call for a special session for government allowed to be formed. March 2, says there will not be any Amanah deputy Opposition parties BN and PAS say they Parliament sitting that day unless the King 5.30pm president want a fresh election. says otherwise. Salahuddin In a rebuff to Dr Mahathir, Malaysia’s King Ayub says PH will appeal says he, and not Parliament, will decide on against the King’s decision. the next PM. The King also says he does not have con dence that any MP has majority support to form a new government, after meeting all lawmakers. Bersatu says it will nominate Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as its prime minister candidate. BN and PAS, with a total of 60 MPs, back Mr Muhyiddin as PM. With Bersatu’s 36, this means Mr Muhyiddin has 96 lawmakers backing him. Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (on the phone) But Mr Anwar says he has the numbers to with several political leaders gathering form the government. He already has 92 at his home yesterday before heading to MPs from PH but indicates that others are the palace for his meeting with the King. ready to defect to his side.

PHOTOS: CHINA PRESS, EPA-EFE, KUA CHEE SIONG, CHOO CHOY MAY SUNDAY TIMES GRAPHICS