Mahathir Mohamad, 92, world oldest PM takes over in Malaysia
Mahathir Mohamad celebrates with his coalition leaders during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur on May 10. (CNN)
London, May 10, 2018 (AltAfrika)-Veteran Malaysian politician Mahathir Mohamad is set to become the world’s oldest leader after a shock victory in the country’s election, after he upended six decades of control by the ruling coalition.
In his triumphant return to front line Malaysian politics, Prime Minister-elect Mahathir — who also ruled the country from 1981 to 2003 — pledged to form a new government quickly, following a momentous night in which scandal-plagued incumbent Najib Razak was soundly beaten at the polls by his former mentor.
Mahathir, who will become the world’s oldest leader aged 92, is expected to be sworn in by Malaysia’s constitutional ruler, King Muhammad V, at 9:30 p.m. (9.30 a.m. ET), according to state media Bernama.
It follows a day of confusion over the status of Malaysia’s new government, with various times announced and then missed for Mahathir’s swearing-in.
Mahathir’s car was seen driving into the palace ahead of a possible 5 p.m. meeting, only to drive out again without a word an hour and a half later.
“We hope by 5:00 pm (0900 GMT) today we will have a prime minister. Any delay means there is no government. If there is no government there is no law or any institutions.”
Mahathir stormed to an unexpected victory early Thursday at the head of an alliance packed with parties that opposed him during his two decades in power, toppling the long-ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.
The former strongman came out of retirement to take on his former protege, scandal-hit Prime Minister Najib Razak.
Credited with turning Malaysia into a major trading and economic force in Southeast Asia, Mahathir left politics in 2003, but he returned with a vengeance this year, determined to oust the incumbent prime minister, Najib.
Mahathir told CNN in January that standing in the election was a “job I have to do.”
