KUALA LUMPUR – Hours after accepting his resignation as prime minister, Malaysia’s King on Monday appointed Dr Mahathir Mohamad as interim prime minister.

Mahathir will continue to run the administration until a new prime minister and Cabinet are appointed, Chief Secretary to the government Mohd Zuki Ali said in a statement.

All ministerial appointments were also cancelled with effect from Monday as a result of the prime minister’s resignation, the chief secretary said in a separate statement.

Mahathir also reportedly resigned from his own party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.  Mahathir’s party also announced that it was quitting the ruling government coalition, Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope), casting doubt on the future of the partnership.

Mahathir’s decision follows a weekend of political wrangling, after it was reported on Sunday night that his party was planning to form a new government that would exclude his anointed successor, Anwar Ibrahim.