Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Sunday, March 1, that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah has refused to see him, reported Harian Metro.

Muhyiddin sworn in as Malaysia's eighth prime minister

Muhyiddin Yassin, the president of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), was sworn in as the country's eighth prime minister at around 10:30am on Sunday, March 1, according to Bernama.

The swearing-in marked the end of Mahathir's term as interim prime minister -- an appointment by the Malaysian king on Monday, Feb. 24, after he resigned a couple of hours ago on the same day.

Mahathir: I cannot communicate with the palace

According to Harian Metro, the fourth and seventh prime minister said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday morning, before the swearing-in, that Muhyiddin was about to be sworn in without commanding majority support from the members of parliament (MPs).

He said: "The Yang di-Pertuan has made the decision and sworn in (Muhyiddin) to take the oath of office as the eighth prime minister at 10:30am despite our majority".

He added: "I have no opportunity to tell the Yang di-Pertuan Agong that he (Muhyiddin) has no majority."

"That is the situation now, and I cannot communicate with the palace."

He had earlier said on Saturday, Feb. 29, that he has the support of 114 MPs.

112 is the minimum number needed to form a simple majority in the 222-seat Dewan Rakyat (lower house of parliament).

Mahathir also said Pakatan Harapan would ask for an urgent sitting of the parliament to see who has the majority, although he added that "a lot of things can happen" until the sitting, which might reduce their majority, Malaysiakini reported.

Feels "betrayed" by Muhyiddin

Mahathir had also said he felt "betrayed", mostly by Muhyiddin, Malaysiakini reported.

He said his party president was "working on this for a long time and now he (Muhyiddin) has succeeded."

As for Azmin Ali, the former People's Justice Party (PKR) deputy president who exited the party with 10 other members, Mahathir responded that he has "his own agenda".

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