Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim gives a thumbs up after a press conference at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur on September 23, 2020. (MOHD RASFAN / AFP)

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Wednesday said opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim needs to prove he had gathered the support of a majority of members of parliament, otherwise it would only be an allegation.

Anwar needs to follow the proper ways and processes stipulated by the constitution to prove he had indeed gathered the support of a majority of members of parliament (MPs), Muhyiddin said in a statement.

Anwar needs to follow the proper ways and processes stipulated by the constitution to prove he had indeed gathered the support of a majority of members of parliament (MPs), Malaysian PM Muhyiddin Yassin said

"Until proven otherwise, the Perikatan Nasional government still stands firm and I am the legitimate Prime Minister," he said, referring to his ruling coalition.

"I urge the people to remain calm to face this situation. This issue will be handled in good order in accordance with the legal processes and federal constitution," he said.

Earlier, Anwar, a former deputy prime minister and the leader of the opposition Pakatan Harapan coalition, told a press conference that he has a "strong, formidable and convincing majority" in the lower house of the parliament to establish a "stable" government.

But he declined to reveal how many members of the 222-seat lower house supported him, saying he is seeking an audience with Malaysia's king Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, who has the right to appoint a new prime minister.

The National Palace confirmed that Anwar had indeed been granted an audience with Sultan Abdullah on Tuesday, but was postponed after the latter was admitted to the hospital, where he was still receiving treatment as of press time.

It added that the King advise the public to stay calm and take care of their personal health by abiding by the standard procedures because the country was still facing the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, while urging all parties to prioritize the people's wellbeing and the country.

Muhyiddin became prime minister in March, following the abrupt resignation of his predecessor Mahathir Mohamad, which led to the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government that had been in place since 2018. But Muhyiddin's coalition only command a slim majority in the lower house of parliament.

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Anwar, 73, has had a tumultuous political career over the past two decades.

At first a rising star of Malaysian politics, he was jailed for sodomy and corruption after a feud with the government, spending nearly 10 years behind bars on charges that he and his supporters have described as a plot to destroy his political career.

But he was granted a royal pardon in 2018, as part of the deal with Mahathir for him to succeed the premiership.

According to Malaysia's constitution, the King shall appoint a prime minister who in his judgement is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the house.

The constitution also stipulates that if the prime minister ceases to command the majority, the prime minister shall tender the resignation of the cabinet unless at his request the King dissolves the parliament.

With inputs from Reuters