KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) - Malaysia's King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah has appointed former deputy prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob as new prime minister of the country, the national palace said on Friday.

In this file photo taken on August 19, 2021, Malaysia's former deputy prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob leaves the headquarters of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party to meet with King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah in Kuala Lumpur. Veteran politician Ismail Sabri Yakoob was named Malaysia's new prime minister on August 20, 2021. (Photo: AFP)

In a statement, the national palace said Ismail Sabri has received the backing of 114 out of the 220 parliament members in the lower house of parliament, a simple majority to form the government, hence Sultan Abdullah agreed to appoint him as the prime minister in accordance with the Malaysian constitution.

Ismail Sabri is scheduled to be sworn in on Saturday, the statement added.

Ismail Sabri will succeed Muhyiddin Yassin, who resigned on Monday after losing majority support in the lower house of parliament.

Ismail Sabri, 61, is a veteran politician of the United Malays National Organization and has served in Muhyiddin's cabinet as defense minister before being appointed as deputy prime minister last month.