KUALA LUMPUR: A staunch Muslim nationalist backed by a scandal-mired party was sworn in as Malaysia’s premier on Sunday after a reformist government’s collapse, but ex-leader Mahathir Mohamad, 94, slammed the move as illegal.

The Southeast Asian nation was plunged into turmoil after Mahathir’s “Pact of Hope” alliance, which stormed to a historic victory in 2018, collapsed amid bitter infighting.