Malaysia was plunged into a bitter power struggle Wednesday as Mahathir Mohamad sought to form a unity government following his shock resignation, but old foe Anwar Ibrahim also pushed to become premier.The developments deepened a crisis that began when the ruling coalition - which included both men when it stormed to a historic poll victory in 2018 - fell apart after a failed bid to establish a new government without Anwar.Anwar was Mahathir's designated successor, but he would likely h

Three units of Goldman Sachs pleaded not guilty Monday in Malaysia over the investment bank's alleged role in the multi-billion-dollar scandal at the country's sovereign wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), official media reported.Huge sums were allegedly looted from the Malaysian fund in a globe-spanning fraud, which reportedly involved ex-leader Najib Razak and his inner circle.Goldman's role has been under scrutiny as it helped arrange a series of bond issues wor

Malaysia's government has collapsed after the resignation of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, which followed a failed bid by rivals to form a new coalition aimed at stopping leader-in-waiting Anwar Ibrahim from succeeding him.Mahathir, 94, the world's oldest leader, has been appointed interim leader while intense political jockeying is underway to form a new government.Here are some details about the political crisis and what could happen next: How did events unfold?The rul

Yesterday, Malaysia’s Dr Mahathir Mohamad did something many in the country could not have expected – he resigned as the country’s prime minister. After subsequently delaying his exit as the country’s administrator, the shock most of the country was feeling was understandable.Following Dr Mahathir’s resignation, it was up to His Royal Highness, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King of Malaysia) to decide whether to accept his resignation or not. The King did.

Thailand's government threatened legal action on Monday against a banned opposition party which claimed Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha  aided in the cover-up of Malaysia's 1MDB graft scandal by harbouring a fugitive financier.The stridently anti-military Future Forward Party, the third largest in parliament, was dissolved Friday by a court and its key members banned from politics for a decade.On Sunday Future Forward's spokeswoman Pannika Wanich held a public confere

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad resigned Monday in a shock move as his alliance that came to power less than two years ago unravelled, but he was reappointed as interim leader by the king.It came after months of rising tensions in his "Pact of Hope" coalition, which toppled a corruption-mired government in 2018, and as some manoeuvre to block the ascent of leader-in-waiting Anwar Ibrahim.But there were calls for Mahathir, the world's oldest leader at 94, to stay in of

Malaysia has seen a long period of speculation from a large portion of the public that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad would never hand over the prime ministerial position to his nemesis-turned-ally Anwar Ibrahim.

Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, at 94 the world's oldest leader, submitted his resignation to the king on Monday, his office said, after a bid by his political partners to bring down the government.Dr Mahathir "has sent a resignation letter as prime minister of Malaysia", said a statement from his office. – AFP 

Malaysia's leader-in-waiting Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday denounced "betrayal" in his ruling coalition, saying that some partners were trying to bring down the government and form a new one.The comments came after senior figures from his coalition and opposition politicians met in a Kuala Lumpur hotel amid speculation they were seeking to form a new alliance that excluded Anwar."Even though there is no announcement tonight, the information I get...

A refugee from Myanmar's tyrannised Rohingya minority, Lila Mubarak embodies perfectly the "poor, huddled masses" welcomed to the United States (US) for more than a century by a bronze plaque at the foot of the Statue of Liberty.The 27-year-old beams as she recounts her difficult path to citizenship a few short years after fleeing persecution in her homeland to make a new life in America's third city, Chicago. "I'm so happy to be an American citizen beca