Malaysian PM tenders his resignation

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, has tendered his resignation to the king, his office reported Monday.

The turn of events comes amid plans by Mahathir supporters to team with opposition parties to form a new government and thwart the transition of power to his named successor Anwar Ibrahim.

Minutes before his resignation was offered, his Bersatu party quit Malaysia's four-member governing alliance that won the historic May 2018 election and announced it would support Mahathir as premier.

The alliance ousted the coalition that ruled the country since Malaysia's independence from Britain in 1957.