Malaysia�s former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad (C) and opposition leader in parliament Anwar Ibrahim (center L) address the media at a march on parliament in Kuala Lumpur on August 2, 2021. (Photo by AFP)

Malaysian opposition lawmakers have staged a march on the parliament building in Kuala Lumpur demanding that Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin resign after the embattled premier canceled a parliamentary session amid political turmoil.

We are gathered here to say that, in terms of the numbers of MPs, Muhyiddin�s government has fallen today, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said on Monday.

Anwar said all 107 opposition lawmakers were united in seeking the premier�s resignation for going against the constitution and the king�s decree, and blocking lawmakers from carrying out their duties.

With the main road cordoned off by police, the opposition lawmakers assembled in a field close to the parliament building before they marched towards the legislature, chanting Step down, Muhyiddin.

Political heavyweight Mahathir Mohamad also joined Anwar in spearheading the march on parliament in a rare show of unity. The two have long had a turbulent relationship.

However, riot police blocked their route to the parliament building. Anwar then called on the group to fall back and eventually the demonstrators dispersed peacefully.

Last week, a special parliamentary meeting, which had been scheduled for Monday, was postponed for an unspecified time due to reports of COVID-19 cases being detected in parliament.

Opposition lawmakers, nonetheless, called the postponement a politically-motivated scheme designed and implemented by Muhyiddin�s government to block a vote of no confidence.

Muhyiddin faced fresh calls to resign last week after Malaysia�s king issued a rare rebuke of the government�s revocation of COVID-19 emergency laws, in place since January, without his consent.

The monarch had demanded that the revocation of ordinances be debated in parliament, but the government did not comply. The PM�s office said it had acted in accordance with the laws and the constitution of Malaysia.

Mahathir�s party objected to the reply. It claimed the government had violated the principles of parliamentary democracy and made a mockery of the king�s authority.

The Southeast Asian country was plunged into a state of political turmoil right after Mahathir unexpectedly resigned from his post as prime minister last year. Muhyiddin assumed power in March 2020.