Former prime minister of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad, was embraced by his wife Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali following the swearing-in of Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin as the eighth PM of the country.

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The couple has been married for more than 63 years.

While Mahathir appeared to jokingly shrug off the advances of his wife who approached with a bear hug, he caved in the end in full view of the media and bystanders in the room.

Siti Hasmah could be heard saying, "Don't shy shy."

She appeared emotional with brows furrowed, as she tried to hug her husband, who eventually returned the embrace.

While Mahathir appeared stern in speech during the press conference, his demeanour softened in front of his wife.

Not going down without a fight

The changing of guard occurred in unceremonious fashion as a defiant Mahathir told the media just before his wife went over to soothe him that Muhyiddin will be sworn in as the eighth prime minister without commanding majority support.

Mahathir also said he asked his coalition, Pakatan Harapan, for an urgent sitting of the parliament to determine who has the majority support of MPs.

This is understood to mean that the fourth and seventh PM of Malaysia will not be going down without a fight amidst a recount to see if a government could even be formed at this juncture, throwing into doubt the ascension of Muhyiddin.

This is so as parliament can call for a vote of no confidence of Muhyiddin, if indeed he does not command majority support of at least 112 MPs.

Mahathir claims he has the support 114 out of 222 MPs.

This comes after Mahathir said that the Malaysia king, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, did not grant him audience to present the numbers to prove he commands the majority support of MPs.

"The loser would form a government, while the winner will become the opposition," Mahathir told reporters during the media conference at Yayasan Al Bukhary in Kuala Lumpur.

"It is a very strange situation."

Split in Mahathir's party

Mahathir remains Bersatu chairperson, which indicates there is a split in his party.

"The king has made the decision not to see me anymore, but to appoint Muhyiddin as the prime minister."

"So I don't have the chance to tell the king that he does not have the majority. That is the situation now, I cannot communicate with the palace," Mahathir explained.

According to Mahathir, the law says that the king can appoint someone who he believes has the support of the majority as prime minister.

The chosen prime minister, however, cannot become one if he goes to the parliament and gets rejected by the majority.

Asked if he regrets resigning as the prime minister last Monday, Mahathir said he did not have a choice as Bersatu decided to come out of Harapan and form a government with Umno.

"That means I have to accept people whom I had been against for corruption," Mahathir said.

"That I am not prepared to do. But Muhyiddin is ready to do that."

However, there is also talk that the number of MPs showing their support for either side can change from now till parliament sits the next time, as defections and strategic realignments due to factionalism can take place.

Mahathir's press conference can be viewed here: