This image released on Thursday shows a general view of the Malaysian Parliament in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia's Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin secured a key victory on Thursday as parliament approved his administration's 2021 budget, ensuring his political survival amid a health and economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo: AFP

Malaysia's king will name a new prime minister as soon as possible but the appointee will have to face a confidence vote in parliament to prove his majority, the palace said in a statement on Wednesday.

Muhyiddin Yassin resigned as prime minister on Monday after conceding that he had lost his majority in parliament but remains caretaker premier until a successor is named.

He did not face a confidence vote in the 17 months that he held office despite repeated calls to do so.

The resignation has deepened a months-long political crisis as Malaysia grapples with a COVID-19 surge and an economic slump. 

No political party has a majority in parliament, so the winning candidate has to put together a coalition.

King Al-Sultan Abdullah, the constitutional monarch, will appoint a prime minister who he thinks can command a majority. 

He has given members of parliament until 4 pm local time (0800 GMT) to submit the name of one candidate they want as premier. 

In a statement, the palace said the prime minister appointed by the king must table a motion of confidence in parliament as soon as possible to prove "legitimately that he has the majority."

The king also asked the various political parties to work together.

"His Majesty... [has] expressed that the unending political turmoil without any full stop has disrupted the government's governance during a time when we still face the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic," the palace said in a statement.

Reuters