(UPDATED) KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's king met lawmakers on Wednesday in a continuing search for a prime minister with majority support after inconclusive general elections that saw the rise of Islamists sparked anxieties in the multiracial nation.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) topped Saturday's poll with 82 parliamentary seats, but failed to reach the 112 needed for a majority. Former prime minister Muhyiddin's Malay-centric Perikatan Nasional (National Alliance) won 73 seats. The hung parliament renewed a leadership crisis in Malaysia that has seen three prime ministers since 2018.