INTERVIEW | Although Pakatan Harapan won enough seats in the 14th general election to form the federal government, uncertainty lingered over Dr Mahathir Mohamad assuming the prime ministership the following day.

The swearing-in ceremony was initially scheduled for 11am on May 10, but was later postponed to 5pm. Speculation began to circulate that there might be attempts to stop him from officially being made prime minister.

Finally, Mahathir was only sworn in about 9.30pm that night.

According to Mahathir’s wife, Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, they ended up waiting as the Istana Negara for five to six hours before the ceremony eventually commenced.

“We had been to the Istana Negara before, but only for a short time, and we were prepared.

“But this time we were not prepared, and we did not know that we would be there for six hours.

“It was so cold. It was like we were in a refrigerator. That is why you could see my husband’s hands shaking.

“It was not because he was nervous, it was because we were so cold,” she said in an interview with Malaysiakini at the Perdana Leadership Foundation.

During the live broadcast of the swearing-in ceremony, netizens had commented on Mahathir’s hands, which were visibly trembling throughout. Many believed this to be a sign of nerves.

Siti Hasmah also said that the official announcement of her husband taking up the mantle of seventh prime minister was very important...