DR Mahathir Mohamad was tonight sworn in as Malaysia’s seventh prime minister, marking the end of the 60-year rule of Barisan Nasional and its lynchpin party, Umno.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V administered the oath to Dr Mahathir at Istana Negara, in a ceremony steeped in formalities.

The swearing-in ceremony comes after the Pakatan Harapan pact, which Dr Mahathir chairs, informed the palace that he is its choice for prime minister.

PH earlier submitted a letter with the endorsement of 131 MPs supporting the leadership’s choice.

Dr Mahathir arrived at Istana Negara at 5pm to take the oath of office, along with the leaders of three other parties, namely PKR’s Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, DAP’s Lim Guan Eng and Amanah’s Mohamad Sabu.

However, when nothing was broadcast on television, there were murmurs on social media about BN attempting to steal PH’s 14th general election victory.

About two hours later, Bernama reported that Dr Mahathir will be sworn in at 9.30pm.

Hundreds of supporters had gathered outside the palace prior to Dr Mahathir’s arrival.

His car, which also carried his wife, Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, was greeted with loud cheers from people who lined the road leading to Istana Negara.

By the time the swearing-in ceremony took place, the crowd outside Istana Negara had swelled to 500 people.

Dr Mahathir is now the world’s oldest prime minister, and the first Malaysian to assume the post twice.

He first held the post from 1981 to 2003, making him the longest-serving prime minister in the nation’s history.

The Agong typically administers the oath to the incoming prime minister on the morning after a general election, but following the Election Commission’s delayed announcement on the final seat tally, the palace, in a statement this morning, said Dr Mahathir would not be sworn in due to security reasons.

This led to uncertainty and confusion, as rumours abounded of possible challenges to PH’s victory.

Dr Mahathir held a press conference in the afternoon, where he urged the palace not to delay his swearing-in, as the country remains without a government for as long as a prime minister is not appointed.

PH won 113 federal seats in the polls yesterday, including nine from DAP in East Malaysia. Unofficial ally Parti Warisan Sabah won eight seats.

BN secured only 79 seats, while PAS took 18. – May 10, 2018.