KUALA LUMPUR, Feb. 27 (CNA) - Several days after he quit as Malaysian prime minister and the chairman of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), Dr Mahathir Mohamad has reportedly agreed to return as the party chief.

Party secretary-general Marzuki Yahya told Bernama this in a short WhatsApp message on Thursday (Feb 27).

"Yes," Mr Marzuki said, when asked whether it is true that Dr Mahathir has returned as Bersatu chairman.

However, there has been no confirmation from Dr Mahathir, who has been appointed interim prime minister by the king.

The 94-year-old had on Monday dropped the bombshell that he was stepping down as prime minister and Bersatu's chairman.

On the same day, Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin announced that Bersatu was pulling out of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition.

These events triggered a political upheaval in Malaysia, which saw all Cabinet ministers relieved of their duties and political parties scrambling to strategise their next moves.

The Malaysian king then summoned all members of parliament to the palace for interviews to gauge who commands the majority of the House.

On Wednesday, Dr Mahathir said in a televised address that he wished to form a non-partisan unity government.

However, the idea was rejected by Mr Anwar Ibrahim-led PH as well as the Opposition coalition Barisan Nasional and Parti Islam Se-Malaysia.

PH leaders, in a press conference, said their choice of prime minister is now Mr Anwar, following Dr Mahathir’s no-show at a PH presidential council meeting on Tuesday.