KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia was plunged into a bitter power struggle yesterday as Dr Mahathir Mohamad sought to form a unity government following his shock resignation, but old foe Anwar Ibrahim also pushed to become premier.

The shock developments deepened a crisis that began when the ruling coalition - which included both men when it stormed to a historic poll victory in 2018 - fell apart after a failed weekend bid to form a new government without Mr Anwar.