Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was mobbed by an enthusiastic crowd of press photographers and members of the public, after performing Friday prayers at the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur on his first day in office as the country’s seventh prime minister.

He prayed at his usual spot in the corridor of the mosque. Seated next to him was Pakatan Harapan’s candidate for Pekan in the 14th general election, Zahid Md Arip...