KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian ex-leader Mahathir Mohamad, 92, said Thursday heexpects to be sworn in as prime minister within hours, quelling concernsaround the succession after his stunning win over the scandal-plaguedcoalition that has ruled for six decades.

In a huge political upset, Mahathir’s opposition alliance ended the hold onpower of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, which has governed Malaysiauninterrupted since its birth as an independent country in 1957.

It capped a dramatic political comeback for Mahathir, who previously ruledthe country with an iron fist for 22 years and came out of retirement totake on Prime Minister Najib Razak after the leader became embroiled in amassive corruption scandal.

When he takes power, Mahathir will be the world’s oldest leader.

However concerns mounted about the transfer of power Thursday morning afterMahathir was not inaugurated by the king, as had been widely expected.

He said there had been some delays due to confusion over certain parts ofthe constitution but this had now been cleared up, and called for hisinauguration to take place by 5:00 pm (0900 GMT).

“We expect today for me to be sworn in as prime minister,” he told a pressconference. “There is an urgency here. Currently there is no government inMalaysia.”

His speech came after Najib, in his first public comments since his shockloss, said he accepted the people’s will — but did not give a clearconcession, and said that it was up to the king to decide on the primeminister as no single party had won a clear majority.

“I accept the verdict of the people and BN is committed to the principlesof democracy,” said the leader, looking shattered.

Analysts warned he could be trying to buy time to win defections from otherparties over to BN, in what would be a desperate bid to cling to powerdespite a landslide defeat. – APP/AFP