People in Malaysia finally have a new prime minister after five days of uncertainty following an inconclusive general election, with the appointment of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim. The 75-year-old veteran spent almost a decade behind bars amid political turmoil in the country.

Anwar was sworn in at the national palace in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday. His Pakatan Harapan opposition coalition took most seats in Saturday's vote, but fell short of a majority.

Malaysia's king appointed him after marathon talks that saw the leaders of two coalitions vying to secure support from Lower House lawmakers.

Anwar served as deputy prime minister and finance minister in the 1990s under Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. He was removed after a bitter dispute over economic measures.

He was later jailed on a series of charges, allegations he consistently denied.

Anwar and Mahathir joined forces again in 2018 as opposition candidates, bringing the first-ever change of power in Malaysia. But the country has since seen political chaos, with the prime minister changing twice.

Attention is now focused on how the other political parties can work with Anwar's coalition and whether he can provide the political stability Malaysians have been hoping for.