Malaysian veteran ex-leader Mahathir Mohamad, 92, said he expected to be sworn in as prime minister later Thursday after his stunning election win, adding there was an "urgency" for him to take office.

"We expect today for me to be sworn in as prime minister," he told a press conference, addressing concerns over a delay by saying that some "confusion" over the process had now been cleared up.

"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. </s> Malaysia’s new Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad says he will form a lean cabinet with 10 core ministries and start the process of obtaining an immediate pardon for jailed opposition icon Anwar Ibrahim.

Mahathir was sworn in as Malaysia’s seventh premier late Thursday, a day after leading his four-party opposition alliance to a stunning election victory that ousted scandal-plagued Prime Minister Najib Razak and ended his coalition’s 60-year unbroken grip on power. It was a remarkable comeback for Mahathir, who was premier for 22 years until his retirement in 2003 and is now the world’s oldest leader at 92.

Mahathir said Thursday the king has indicated he was willing to give an immediate pardon that would free Anwar, who was jailed on sodomy charges he said were politically motivated. </s> Mahathir Mohamad won a stunning victory in Malaysia’s election, ending the six-decade rule of Prime Minister Najib Razak’s party in a landmark shift for the Southeast Asian nation.

Mahathir, Malaysia’s longest-serving premier, who defected to the opposition to take on Najib, will return to power at the age of 92. His four-party Pakatan Harapan alliance won at least 112 of 222 parliamentary seats in Wednesday’s vote, official figures from the election commission showed.

“We are not seeking revenge,” Mahathir said. “What we want to do is to restore the rule of law.” </s> In an exclusive interview at the WSJ CEO Council in Tokyo, newly elected Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad revealed he plans to remain in power for "one or two years" rather than hand the reins to longtime opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was arrested Tuesday in connection with a multibillion-dollar financial scandal at the heart of his government.

Mr. Najib quashed an investigation into the scandal when it exploded three years ago. But he is no longer able to dictate events after being cast from office in a stunning election loss in May, and Malaysia’s new rulers are eager to unearth what went on at troubled state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd., or 1MDB. </s> Bangkok: Malaysia's 92-year-old former long-serving prime minster Mahathir Mohamad has been named to lead opposition parties into one of his country's most bitterly fought elections since independence.

Authorities in Kuala Lumpur have also announced that former popular opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim will be released from jail on June 8, opening the way for him to be possibly pardoned and eventually become prime minister.

Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia's 92-year-old former prime minister. Credit:Bloomberg

Long-time arch enemies Mahathir and Anwar have come together in a stunning turnaround from years of bitter feuding that shaped Malaysia's political landscape for almost two decades.

The pair are seen as the biggest threat for Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is engulfed in a multi-billion dollar corruption scandal. </s> Malaysia's new Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Friday he will form a lean cabinet with 10 core ministries and start the process of obtaining an immediate pardon for jailed opposition icon Anwar Ibrahim.

Mahathir was sworn in as Malaysia's seventh premier late Thursday, a day after leading his four-party opposition alliance to a stunning election victory that ousted scandal-plagued Prime Minister Najib Razak and ended his coalition's 60-year unbroken grip on power. It was a remarkable comeback for Mahathir, who was premier for 22 years until his retirement in 2003 and is now the world's oldest leader at 92.

Mahathir said the king has indicated he was willing to give an immediate pardon that would free Anwar, who was jailed in 2015 on sodomy charges he said were fabricated by the then-government to crush the opposition.

"We will go through the proper process of obtaining a pardon for Anwar... it is going to be a full pardon, which of course, means he is not only pardoned but to be released immediately," he told a news conference. He didn't say how long the process will take and whether Anwar could be freed before his sentence ends June 8.

It was a second spell in prison for Anwar, a former deputy prime minister in the defeated ruling party who was also imprisoned under Mahathir in 1998 following a power struggle. Anwar and Mahathir joined forces in an unlikely alliance that helped the opposition nailed the electoral victory.

Mahathir's deputy in the new government is Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Anwar's wife and the leader of his People's Justice Party. She is the first female deputy premier in Malaysia but the current set-up is seen as transitional as Mahathir has agreed to hand over the baton to Anwar once he is freed.

Mahathir has been coy about how long he will stay in his new job. Anwar will need to contest and win a by-election after he is freed to become a member of parliament before he takes on the top job.

Mahathir said his four-party alliance will hold a meeting Saturday and name 10 ministers for a start. He said he doesn't want a "huge" cabinet, in a veiled reference to past cabinets with more than 30 ministers.

He also issued a strong warning against graft, with corrupt officials to be replaced in an overhaul of government departments. He indicated this could include Attorney General Mohamed Apandi Ali, who was appointed after Najib sacked the then-attorney general in 2015 to escape possible prosecution over a corruption scandal involving the 1MDB state fund.

"The attorney-general has undermined his own credibility. He has, in fact, hidden evidence of wrongdoing and that is wrong in law," Mahathir said.

Anger over the 1MDB scandal prompted Mahathir to emerge from retirement and sparked the anger that helped to oust Najib's coalition. The fund was set up by Najib in 2009 to promote economic development but it accumulated billions in debts and is under investigations in the U.S. and other countries.

U.S. investigators say Najib's associates stole and looted at least $4.5 billion from the fund, of which some $700 million landed in Najib's bank account. Najib denied any wrongdoing and Mohamed Apandi cleared Najib in 2016, saying the money was a donation from Saudi Arabia's royal family and most of it returned.

Mahathir has said he would not go on a witch hunt but that Najib will be brought to court if there was evidence of wrongdoing. </s> KUALA LUMPUR , Malaysia — Malaysia's new Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Friday he will form a lean cabinet with 10 core ministries and start the process of obtaining an immediate pardon for jailed opposition icon Anwar Ibrahim.

Mahathir was sworn in as Malaysia's seventh premier late Thursday, a day after leading his four-party opposition alliance to a stunning election victory that ousted scandal-plagued Prime Minister Najib Razak and ended his coalition's 60-year unbroken grip on power. It was a remarkable comeback for Mahathir, who was premier for 22 years until his retirement in 2003 and is now the world's oldest leader at 92.

Mahathir said the king has indicated he was willing to give an immediate pardon that would free Anwar, who was jailed in 2015 on sodomy charges he said were fabricated by the then-government to crush the opposition.

"We will go through the proper process of obtaining a pardon for Anwar... it is going to be a full pardon, which of course, means he is not only pardoned but to be released immediately," he told a news conference. He didn't say how long the process will take and whether Anwar could be freed before his sentence ends June 8.

It was a second spell in prison for Anwar, a former deputy prime minister in the defeated ruling party who was also imprisoned under Mahathir in 1998 following a power struggle. Anwar and Mahathir joined forces in an unlikely alliance that helped the opposition nailed the electoral victory.

Mahathir's deputy in the new government is Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Anwar's wife and the leader of his People's Justice Party. She is the first female deputy premier in Malaysia but the current set-up is seen as transitional as Mahathir has agreed to hand over the baton to Anwar once he is freed.

Mahathir has been coy about how long he will stay in his new job. Anwar will need to contest and win a by-election after he is freed to become a member of parliament before he takes on the top job.

Mahathir said his four-party alliance will hold a meeting Saturday and name 10 ministers for a start. He said he doesn't want a "huge" cabinet, in a veiled reference to past cabinets with more than 30 ministers.

He also issued a strong warning against graft, with corrupt officials to be replaced in an overhaul of government departments. He indicated this could include Attorney General Mohamed Apandi Ali, who was appointed after Najib sacked the then-attorney general in 2015 to escape possible prosecution over a corruption scandal involving the 1MDB state fund.

"The attorney-general has undermined his own credibility. He has, in fact, hidden evidence of wrongdoing and that is wrong in law," Mahathir said.

Anger over the 1MDB scandal prompted Mahathir to emerge from retirement and sparked the anger that helped to oust Najib's coalition. The fund was set up by Najib in 2009 to promote economic development but it accumulated billions in debts and is under investigations in the U.S. and other countries.

U.S. investigators say Najib's associates stole and looted at least $4.5 billion from the fund, of which some $700 million landed in Najib's bank account. Najib denied any wrongdoing and Mohamed Apandi cleared Najib in 2016, saying the money was a donation from Saudi Arabia's royal family and most of it returned.

Mahathir has said he would not go on a witch hunt but that Najib will be brought to court if there was evidence of wrongdoing. </s> KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia’s new Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Friday he will form a lean cabinet with 10 core ministries and start the process of obtaining an immediate pardon for jailed opposition icon Anwar Ibrahim.

Mahathir was sworn in as Malaysia’s seventh premier late Thursday, a day after leading his four-party opposition alliance to a stunning election victory that ousted scandal-plagued Prime Minister Najib Razak and ended his coalition’s 60-year unbroken grip on power. It was a remarkable comeback for Mahathir, who was premier for 22 years until his retirement in 2003 and is now the world’s oldest leader at 92.

Mahathir said the king has indicated he was willing to give an immediate pardon that would free Anwar, who was jailed in 2015 on sodomy charges he said were fabricated by the then-government to crush the opposition.

“We will go through the proper process of obtaining a pardon for Anwar… it is going to be a full pardon, which of course, means he is not only pardoned but to be released immediately,” he told a news conference. He didn’t say how long the process will take and whether Anwar could be freed before his sentence ends June 8.

It was a second spell in prison for Anwar, a former deputy prime minister in the defeated ruling party who was also imprisoned under Mahathir in 1998 following a power struggle. Anwar and Mahathir joined forces in an unlikely alliance that helped the opposition nailed the electoral victory.

Mahathir’s deputy in the new government is Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Anwar’s wife and the leader of his People’s Justice Party. She is the first female deputy premier in Malaysia but the current set-up is seen as transitional as Mahathir has agreed to hand over the baton to Anwar once he is freed.

Mahathir has been coy about how long he will stay in his new job. Anwar will need to contest and win a byelection after he is freed to become a member of parliament before he takes on the top job.

Mahathir said his four-party alliance will hold a meeting Saturday and name 10 ministers for a start. He said he doesn’t want a “huge” cabinet, in a veiled reference to past cabinets with more than 30 ministers.

He also issued a strong warning against graft, with corrupt officials to be replaced in an overhaul of government departments. He indicated this could include Attorney General Mohamed Apandi Ali, who was appointed after Najib sacked the then-attorney general in 2015 to escape possible prosecution over a corruption scandal involving the 1MDB state fund.

“The attorney-general has undermined his own credibility. He has, in fact, hidden evidence of wrongdoing and that is wrong in law,” Mahathir said.

Anger over the 1MDB scandal prompted Mahathir to emerge from retirement and sparked the anger that helped to oust Najib’s coalition. The fund was set up by Najib in 2009 to promote economic development but it accumulated billions in debts and is under investigations in the U.S. and other countries.

U.S. investigators say Najib’s associates stole and looted at least $4.5 billion from the fund, of which some $700 million landed in Najib’s bank account. Najib denied any wrongdoing and Mohamed Apandi cleared Najib in 2016, saying the money was a donation from Saudi Arabia’s royal family and most of it returned.

Mahathir has said he would not go on a witch hunt but that Najib will be brought to court if there was evidence of wrongdoing. </s> Malaysia's opposition has won a spectacular upset with an election result that ends more than 60 years of rule by a single, dominant coalition. Following a contest riddled with ironies, 92-year-old former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad becomes the world's oldest elected leader after leaving the coalition and challenging incumbent Najib Razak, his former protege whose reputation has been scorched by a massive corruption scandal. David Boyle reports from Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur.
Mahathir Mohamad is sworn in as the 7th Prime Minister of Malaysia after leading the opposition Pakatan Harapan coalition to victory in the May 9 general election. Outgoing Prime Minister Najib Razak pledges to assist with the transition of power.