resigned as Prime Minister on 24 February 2020, marking the end of the seventh Mahathir cabinet, where Muhyiddin was Minister of Home Affairs. A combination of factors, including Muhyiddin's decision to pull out his own party out of the Pakatan Harapan coalition, the sacking of Mohamed Azmin Ali and Zuraida Kamaruddin from People's Justice Party for initiating the "Sheraton Move" and the resignation of nine other Members of Parliament aligned to Azmin from PKR, resulted in the ruling coalition losing a simple majority in the Dewan Rakyat, leaving itself hung. However, at the request of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Mahathir stayed on as interim Prime Minister until a new Prime Minister is appointed. Following the leadership vacuum, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong summoned all MPs to the Istana Negara on 26 and 27 February to gauge their support for a new prime minister. PH initially wanted Mahathir to return, but later named Anwar Ibrahim to the post based on Mahathir's promise to pass the baton to Anwar before retracting the nomination for another time. The proposed return of Mahathir received cross community support from BERSATU, Barisan Nasional, Malaysian Islamic Party, Sabah Heritage Party, Sarawak Parties Alliance and other political parties represented in the Parliament. However, BN, PAS and GPS opposed the return of Democratic Action Party to the governing coalition, the same way Mahathir opposed the return of "kleptocrats and traitors" to the same. On 28 February, the National Palace stated that none of Prime Minister's candidates, namely Mahathir, Anwar, Muhyiddin or the self-nominated Bung Moktar Radin, obtained a simple majority in the Dewan Rakyat to form a government. Therefore, His Majesty gave another chance to leaders of all political parties represented in the Parliament to propose a new Prime Minister on the following day. As a result, His Majesty has decided to appoint Muhyiddin as Prime Minister according to Articles 40 and 43 of the Federal Constitution following His Majesty's belief that Muhyiddin could command the majority of the Dewan Rakyat, Datuk Pengelola Bijaya Diraja Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin announced in a palace statement. According to PAS Secretary-General Takiyuddin Hassan, Muhyiddin was supported by 114 MPs representing BERSATU, BN, PAS, GBS and GPS. SarawakChief MinisterAbang Johari Openg later announced that GPS is not a part of the newly-created Perikatan Nasional coalition but a party that provides confidence and supply to Muhyiddin. Despite Mahathir's claim that he received support from 114 MPs to return to premiership at the night before Muhyiddin's swearing-in, Muhyiddin was sworn in as the eighth Prime Minister at 10.33 in the morning of 1 March.
Composition
On 9 March 2020, Muhyiddin announced his Cabinet of 32 ministers and 38 deputy ministers. The Cabinet includes six technocrats who was appointed as Senators on 10 March 2020 before taking office. The position of Deputy Prime Minister was kept vacant as "there is no need to appoint one". Instead, the Senior Ministers will deputise for the Prime Minister in his absence should such necessity arises.
