Malaysian king picks ex-deputy PM as nation’s new leader

King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah said Mr Ismail had secured the backing of 114 politicians to give him majority support

Former deputy prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob waves as he leave after meeting with the King at the national palace in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Picture: FL Wong/AP

Malaysia’s longest-governing political party reclaimed the premiership it lost in a shock 2018 election defeat, after the king named its candidate, Ismail Sabri Yaakob, as the country’s new leader.

Mr Ismail was the deputy prime minister under the government of Muhyiddin Yassin, who resigned on Monday after less than 18 months in office as infighting in his coalition cost him majority support.