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The top job in Malaysia's government is currently vacant, as the eighth prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced his resignation on Aug. 16 in a live Radio Televisyen Malaysia broadcast.

The 74-year-old has since been appointed as caretaker prime minister, and both him and his party did not rule out the possibility of him making a comeback, as per The Star.

Meanwhile, factions and parties have begun the scramble for power, as UMNO (United Malays National Organisation), PAS (Malaysian Islamic Party), and Bersatu (Malaysian United Indigenous Party) all held special meetings following Muhyiddin's resignation, reported Malaysiakini.

The king has reportedly called for meetings with all political party leaders to discuss matters on the next prime minister, as per Malay Mail.

Muhyiddin: let's wait and see

Acting as the caretaker prime minister of Malaysia as of Aug. 16, Muhyiddin said it will be a "one man show", as his entire cabinet has resigned, as per The Star.

However, it seems that the Pagoh member of parliament has not thrown in the towel just yet.

When asked by the media about the possibility of him being reappointed as the prime minister, he reportedly replied, "Let's wait and see".

Meanwhile, Muhyiddin's party, Bersatu, has refused to rule out the possibility of him making a comeback, as per Malaysiakini.

The supreme council of the party reportedly gave party president Muhyiddin "full support" to determine the candidates for the prime minister's seat.

"If the president is still interested, then it will be the president," Bersatu supreme council member Eddin Syazlee Shith told Malaysiakini.

According to information obtained by The Star, Bersatu currently has signed statutory declarations in hand from 35 MPs, but it has yet to be known for whom they are all for.

All 31 MPs from Bersatu were on board, including four opposition MPs who defected from prime minister prospect Anwar Ibrahim's PKR (People's Justice Party).

A source in Bersatu told The Star that the party is open to considering UMNO's Ismail Sabri Yaakob as a "second option" for the top job, as he "stood by" them.

Ismail was the deputy prime minister in Muhyiddin's administration.

Istana Negara asks MPs to submit vote for next PM in writing

Acting on the king's order, parliament speaker Azhar Azizan Harun sent instructions to MPs to "submit a letter that states clearly whom you support to be the ninth prime minister".

House Speaker Azhar Harun issued a notice to all members of Parliament, requesting each and every MPs to send their declaration to nominate only one name as the 9th Prime Minister.

MPs are required to send it to the Istana Negara latest by 4pm on August 18 (Wednesday). pic.twitter.com/VrGt0D7i4N

— Norman Goh (@imnormgoh) August 17, 2021

The letter should be addressed to the king's private secretary and can be submitted via fax, email or WhatsApp, with a deadline of 4p.m. on Aug. 18.

The instructions state that physical submissions are prohibited due to the Covid-19 situation.

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Top image via Mohd Rasfan/AFP via Getty Images