The latest word out of Malaysia is that Mahathir Mohamad was not privy to the treachery and political coup, where shifting political loyalties has resulted in the end of the Pakatan Harapan coalition.

As a result of the political manoeuvering and talk of forming a new coaltion government, Mahathir quit as chairman of his Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) on Monday, Feb. 24, just two hours after submitting his resignation as Malaysia's Prime Minister to the king.

The significance of this move has since been explained.

According to The Straits Times, sources it spoke to said Mahathir resigned because he refuses to accept the demand that he work with Umno, a coalition that was on the brink of collapse after it lost power and weighed down with accusations of corruption.

This latest revelation and plot twist would then mean that Mahathir was not the mastermind, but was having his hand forced to act.

Significance of Mahathir quitting

By quitting, Mahathir was making it clear he had no part to play in this business as he has refused to accept the plans to ditch the constituent parties in PH.

Mahathir was revealed as having quit as party chief in protest against PPBM president Muhyiddin Yassin's decision to abandon the PH coalition and instead work with opposition party Umno in a new government.

A top PH leader quoted by ST said: "During the Bersatu meeting, they promised to leave the decision to him and he did not want to ditch PH. But Muhyiddin and gang went ahead anyway."

ST reported that Mahathir revealed this in his morning meeting with other PH chiefs, namely Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Anwar Ibrahim, Democratic Action Party (DAP) secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu.

This was also why Anwar, who is meant to succeed Mahathir, told reporters he had a positive meeting with Mahathir and that their reform agenda would continue.

In a live interview with CNA, Anwar revealed as much about the "treachery" that was afoot in Malaysia after his separate meetings with the king and Mahathir:

Reporter: Were you shocked by the decision by the prime minister to tender his resignation?

Anwar: I was with him, I was informed, but I could not then because until he released publicly. So, we discussed and I did appeal to him on behalf of Keadilan and Pakatan that this treachery could be dealt with together. But of course, he's of different mind. He thought that we shouldn't be treated in that manner probably to work, to associate him working with with those he believed to be corrupt.

Reporter: He felt responsible for this full episode?

Anwar: This not him because his name was used. Those in my party and those outside, you know, using his name and he reiterated what he had said to me earlier. He had played no part in it. He made it very clear that in no way will he ever work with those associated with the past.

Reporter: What's going to happen to the Pakatan Harapan government now?

Anwar: The PM has just tendered his resignation, (he will be) having an audience with the king shortly. We will go on from there.

Reporter: Are you still the prime minister-in-waiting?

Anwar: We shall see.