New Malaysian leader is world’s oldest prime minister at 92

MAHATHIR MOHAMAD was sworn in as the world’s oldest prime minister yesterday, making an extraordinary political comeback as Malaysia’s leader at the age of 92.

Supporters waved flags and cheered outside the Istana Negara palace in Kuala Lumpur as Dr Mahathir, who previously served as prime minister for 22 years, took the oath once again.

The ceremony took place at 9.30pm after a day of political drama that began in the early hours with Pakatan Harapan (PH), Dr Mahathir’s opposition coalition, trouncing Najib Razak, the incumbent prime minister, and his ruling Barisan Nasional coalition (BN), in a shock election victory.

Mr Najib waited until mid-morning to grudgingly accept defeat, but he immediately cast doubt on his former mentor’s right to be appointed prime minister, declaring that only the king, as head of state, had the authority to make that choice.

His failure to make a clear concession prompted analysts to warn that he could be trying to buy time to win defections from other parties, in what would be a desperate bid to cling to power after falling 33 seats short of the majority needed to form a government.

Hours of unexplained delays in Dr Mahathir’s appointment heightened fears that the transition of power, ousting a coalition that had ruled Malaysia for over 60 years, would not be smooth.

The former political strongman urged Yang di-pertuan Agong, the monarch, to allow him to form a government by 5pm, warning that any delay would mean you “have no government, you have no law, you have no constitution”.

Despite lingering uncertainty about his appointment, Dr Mahathir turned up at the palace shortly before 5pm in a black limousine, accompanied by Dr Siti Hasmah Ali, his wife.

The palace was later forced to issue a statement to “strongly refute” any allegation that the king had delayed Dr Mahathir’s transition to power.

At a late night press conference, the new prime minister, whose coalition had secured 121 parliamentary seats, thanked his voters and said tackling the country’s economic problems would be his first priority.