DR Mahathir Mohamad’s resignation as prime minister after a tumultuous Sunday sparked a series of events that roiled Malaysia’s political landscape.

It not only led to turmoil in his party, Bersatu, but also PKR, causing the collapse of Pakatan Harapan, which has been in power for just 21 months.

Today started with Dr Mahathir’s resignation as prime minister, and an hour later, as chairman of Bersatu, the party he founded shortly before the 2018 general election.

This was followed by Bersatu’s exit from the coalition.

Meanwhile, PKR, the largest PH component, announced the sacking of two top guns, Mohamed Azmin Ali and Zuraida Kamaruddin.

Azmin, however, said he was leaving the party with 10 other MPs to form an independent bloc.

With the departure of Bersatu and Azmin’s faction, PH has lost 37 parliamentary seats. A minimum of 112 seats is required to hold a simple majority in Parliament.

These events came on the heels of yesterday’s flurry of activities that had led to speculation that there would be a political realignment with a new coalition in Putrajaya.

Below is a chronology of the events that took place today, with no immediate solution in sight.

9.35am: PKR president Anwar Ibrahim arrives at the Prime Minister’s Office for a meeting with Dr Mahathir.

He is accompanied by PH advisory council chairman Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu. Dr Wan Azizah is also the deputy prime minister, while Lim and Mohamad are both ministers.

Dr Mahathir is not at his office.

10.25am: Anwar and the three other PH leaders are seen leaving PMO. They head for Dr Mahathir’s residence in Seri Kembangan. They leave after about two hours.

11am: DAP leaders start gathering at the party headquarters for an emergency meeting of the central executive committee to discuss the recent political developments.

12pm: PKR leaders begin gathering at their party HQ for an emergency meeting.

1pm: Anwar tells reporters at the PKR HQ that he is satisfied with the meeting with Dr Mahathir. He also says Dr Mahathir reaffirmed his stand on PH’s reform agenda.

1.45pm: News breaks that Dr Mahathir tendered his resignation letter to the Agong at 1pm.

1.50pm: PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announces that Azmin and Zuraida have been sacked from the party.

This is quickly followed by a statement from nine PKR lawmakers, saying they have left the party to become independents along with Azmin and Zuraida. They are Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, Works Minister Baru Bian, Deputy Transport Minister Kamaruddin Jaffar, Nibong Tebal MP Mansor Othman, Batu Pahat MP Rashid Hasnon, Segamat MP Santhara Kumar, Saratok MP Ali Biju, Puncak Borneo MP Willie Mongin and Ranau MP Jonathan Yasin.

2.10pm: Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin announces the party’s departure from PH, effectively ending the ruling coalition.

2.30pm-2.40pm: Anwar and Dr Wan Azizah enter Istana Negara to have an audience with the Agong. They leave at 3.15pm.

2.48pm: Azmin and Zuraida are seen entering Dr Mahathir’s residence in Seri Kembangan.

3pm: Dr Mahathir resigns as Bersatu chairman.

3.02pm-3.20pm: Amanah ministers release statements on the end of their stint in office.

Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad posts his “last tweet as health minister”.

Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Salahuddin Ayub apologises to the country’s farmers and fishermen.

“My time at the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry has come to an end, and I pray that you will reach greater heights under the ministry’s new leadership.”

3.30pm: Anwar returns to PKR HQ.

4.25pm: Dr Mahathir leaves his residence for Istana Negara to have an audience with the Agong.

4.30pm: Lim holds a press conference, saying Dr Mahathir resigned due to “nefarious attempts to subvert and undermine the people’s mandate given to PH”.

He says Dr Mahathir has clearly stated that he cannot work with Umno, as PH had worked hard to beat the party in the 2018 elections.

Lim also urges Dr Mahathir to retract his resignation. DAP elected reps have signed statutory declarations in support of Dr Mahathir as prime minister.

4.40pm: Dr Mahathir arrives at Istana Negara for a 90-minute meeting with the Agong.

5.30pm: Anwar tells reporters at the PKR HQ that he pleaded with Dr Mahathir not to resign as prime minister this morning.

“I was with him, I was informed, but I could not tell until he released (his decision) publicly. I did appeal to him on behalf of PKR and PH to stay.”

6.20pm: Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador, after meeting the Agong, says the ruler instructed police to ensure peace and order in the country.

6.40pm: Dr Mahathir arrives back home in Seri Kembangan.

7.15pm: Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Zuki Ali releases a statement that the Agong has accepted Dr Mahathir’s resignation, but appointed him interim prime minister until a new appointment to the post is made.

8pm: A second statement from Zuki says the services of cabinet members have ended with the resignation of the prime minister.

8.30pm: Bersatu holds a supreme council meeting chaired by Muhyiddin.

8.30pm: Azmin’s faction holds its own meeting at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

9.30pm: Umno and PAS leaders are huddled together in a closed-door dinner meeting at PWTC. Former prime minister Najib Razak is in attendance. – February 24, 2020.