Malaysia’s wait for PM continues for fourth day as post-election crisis drags

The wait for a new Malaysian prime minister entered its fourth day on Wednesday, after the leading two contenders failed to secure enough support for a majority and break a hung parliament following last weekend’s election.
Malaysia’s king will pick the new premier, after opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and former premier Muhyiddin Yassin missed his Tuesday afternoon deadline to put together an alliance with other parties to form a government.
The fallout from Saturday’s election prolongs political instability in the Southeast Asian nation, which has had three prime ministers in as many years, and risks delays to policy decisions needed to spur an economic recovery.
King Al-Sultan Abdullah is expected to meet with lawmakers from the incumbent Barisan Nasional coalition individually from 10:30 a.m. (0230 GMT) on Wednesday to help him determine who will be prime minister.
The constitutional monarch plays a largely ceremonial role but can appoint a premier he believes will command a majority in parliament.