Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad takes a question at a news conference in Petaling Jaya on Saturday. The prime minister also said a special council including Hong Kong-based Malaysian billionaire Robert Kuok would be set up to advise the government. Mr Lim, a chief minister of Penang state before the election, is the first ethnic Chinese to hold the powerful finance post in 44 years. Mr Lim was a bitter foe of Dr Mahathir during the latter's earlier 22-year stint as prime minister and was thrown in jail twice. Financial markets had been betting on Mr Najib remaining in power, and the ringgit and stocks are set for more volatility when markets reopen on Monday.

Source: Bangkok Post May 12, 2018 10:29 UTC