Dr M expects to be sworn in as PM by 5pm today

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister-in-waiting Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he hopes to be sworn in as Malaysia's seventh Prime Minister by 5pm on Thursday (May 10).

"We want to make it clear that there is an urgency here to form the government today," said Dr Mahathir at a press conference on Thursday.

"Currently, there is no government of Malaysia," he said.

“We need to form the government now today, because currently there is no government of Malaysia,” he said, adding that there is no rule of law without a government. 

He said he has the support of at least 135 parliamentarians from Pakatan Harapan, Parti Warisan Sabah and others to form the federal government.

Dr Mahathir highlighted that the Constitution of Malaysia says that as long as there is support from the majority of members of Parliament, a person can become prime minister.

"It doesn't say that it should have the support of any party. As long as there is majority of support from members of Parliament, he is entitled to become prime minister," he said.

Dr Mahathir said that Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's tenure as prime minister is "over".

"The candidate chosen by Pakatan Harapan as prime minister, that candidate you may have heard is Dr Mahathir Mohamad," said Dr Mahathir cheekily.

He informed that all the parties in Pakatan Harapan as well as parties in Sabah that supports the coalition will be signing a declaration of support to be sent to the King.

"We expected to sign (the declaration) this morning. But everyone was sleeping and didn't get up early enough. So we didn't have the official swearing in this morning," said Dr Mahathir.

Dr Mahathir hopes that the swearing in of the new prime minister will take place once all the parties have signed the declaration.

"We will deliver this even though it is not the requirement for the naming of prime minister," he said.

"We need to have this government today without delay. There is a lot of work that needs to be done," said Dr Mahathir.

"There is a lot of mess in the country and we need to attend to this mess as soon as possible," he said, adding that he will call for Parliament very soon to introduce the first phase of government.- Star