Anwar Ibrahim Chosen as the 10th Prime Minister of Malaysia

Official sources from Istana Negara have confirmed that Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been chosen to be the tenth prime minister of Malaysia. The post was previously held by Dato' Sri Ismail Sabri Bin Yaakob. The 75-year-old will finally assume the post and will be sworn in this evening at 5.00 pm at the Istana Negara. He was first elected as former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s Deputy Prime Minister back in 1993 and has experienced a tumultuous political career over the years before being able to clinch the top job.

After Malaysians headed for the polls for GE15 on 19 November, the results left the whole nation on the edge of their seats as it produced the country’s first-ever hung parliament.

After the ballots were counted, PH led by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim secured the most seats with 82 seats, while PN had 73. Meanwhile, the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional, led by Ismail Sabri Yaakob only garnered 30 seats ––– its worst electoral defeat yet.

Anwar won his Tambun parliamentary seat with a 5,328-vote majority. Meanwhile, Anwar’s daughter Nurul Izzah suffered a shock loss for her Permatang Pauh seat as she was beaten by Perikatan Nasional candidate Muhammad Fawwaz Mohamad Jan from PAS.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong initially set a 2pm deadline for 21 November (Monday) for the political parties to prove their majority for government formation and to name a prime minister candidate. The deadline was then extended to 2pm on 22 November after political party leaders and coalitions made a request for an extension. There were then multiple delays before the official announcement was finally made this afternoon.

Image credit: @anwaribrahim_my