Mahathir's move, which broke a coalition with old rival Anwar Ibrahim that had secured a surprise election victory two years ago, has been widely perceived as an attempt to consolidate the 94-year-old leader's power.

Mahathir, who was named by Malaysia's king as interim premier immediately after resigning on Monday, said on Thursday after a further meeting with the king that parliament would hold an unprecedented vote for a new leader on Monday.

That announcement angered the opposing coalition of three parties led by Anwar, 72, who argued it was inappropriate for Mahathir to pre-empt the king's decision and a vote in parliament would challenge the powers of the monarch.

Under Malaysia's political system, the king would usually determine which party or coalition had a majority of support following representations from each. The winning party or coalition would then choose the prime minister.

The vote flagged by Mahathir upends that system by allowing all members of parliament to vote for a leader across party lines. Such a vote would be in line with Mahathir's proposal to head a unity government that would draw ministers from any party he likes.

Mahathir said on Thursday the parliamentary vote was necessary as the king had reported no party had a majority. The king had taken the unusual step of meeting with all 222 members of parliament, instead of just the leaders, to gauge support.

If no candidate received majority support at Monday's vote, there would be a snap election, Mahathir added.

The nine sultans, led by Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, will meet on Friday afternoon. They serve as hereditary ceremonial heads of individual Malaysian states.

The palace did not give any indication of whether they would confirm the plan for a parliamentary vote on Monday or instead outline another process. It did not say when their decision would be made public.

Australian Associated Press