Parliament will not hold special session on March 2: Malaysian King

Malaysia's Parliament will not hold a special session on Monday to decide the next prime minister, the country's monarch announced, a day after interim Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said the legislative body would do so.

Malaysia's king Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah struck down today a power play by 94-year-old Mahathir Mohamad aimed at seizing momentum in a political crisis, capping a week of turmoil that has left the country effectively leaderless.

 

The King rejected Mahathir's plan to convene parliament to vote on the country's next prime minister, after it was widely criticised as against the constitution.

Mahathir, currently interim leader, earlier announced the parliament session would take place on Monday and the



monarch, who appoints the premier, agreed with the decision. But after a meeting of the country's Islamic leaders, the king, said the sitting would not take place.

According to a palace statement, the monarch has met all the country's MPs this week to work out who they back for premier, but no candidate has emerged with enough support. A candidate must have support of at least 112 MPs.The statement said, the king will continue to strive to find a solution in accordance with the constitution, in the interests of the people and the country. Palace officials will now hold talks with the leaders of different parties and ask them to put forward candidates, extending the turmoil and heightening the chances of a snap poll.