KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin holds the majority support from members of parliament.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah, in his royal address while opening the 14th parliament today said Muhyiddin had the support of the majority and that he had made the decision only after holding a series of meetings with MPs and political party leaders in February.

He said Muhyiddin was appointed the eighth prime minister after the political parties were given ample time to name their candidates.

"At around 5pm on Feb 24, I received in audience from (former prime minister) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. During the meeting, I asked Tun Dr Mahathir not to resign. But he was firm with his decision.

"Article 43 empowers me to appoint an MP who in my judgement is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the Dewan Rakyat." he said.

Sultan Abdullah said after going through the processes and in accordance with the Federal Constitution, he found Muhyiddin to have the confidence of the majority of the MPs and eligible to be appointed as the eighth prime minister.

"In fact, I discharged my responsibility in a transparent and just manner in accordance with the concept of the Constitutional Monarchy and Parliamentary Democracy that is the backbone of our country's practice," he said.

Today's 14th Parliament opening was a clear indication of the support - 114 out of the 222 MPs were seated in the government's bloc.

This was the first sitting for the newly-formed Perikatan Nasional government, a coalition comprised both former ruling and opposition parties, which the former prime minister had refused to join due to Umno's presence in it.

The opposition had earlier questioned the sitting, which was restricted to formal entry of the Dewan Rakyat Speaker, prayers and Royal address, saying that it was Muhyiddin's attempt to deflect the motion.

Langkawi MP Dr Mahathir, who submitted the vote of no confidence motion against Muhyiddin, was seated in the opposition bloc in the Parliament hall.

In the meantime, Sultan Abdullah also cautioned politicians not to drag the country once again into political turmoil, emphasising that the people were facing hardship and a difficult future as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"The honourable members (of Parliament) should always show maturity in politics.

"This includes understanding the people's grievances, championing their plight, upholding principles of justice, practising a clean political culture, and refraining from harping on religious and racial sensitivities as well as the sovereignty and position of the Malay Rulers.

"That is why my government decided that the first sitting (of the Parliament) today will only have one agenda, that is my Royal address in conjunction with the opening of the new session of the Parliament." he said.