The Malaysian prime minister, 94-year-old Mahathir Mohamad, has submitted his resignation to the king.

Mahathir's shock resignation comes amid rumours that he may form a new coalition without his designated successor, Anwar Ibrahim.

The world's oldest prime minister came into power in 2018.

In a surprise victory, he ousted then-prime minister Najib Razak, who has been linked to a multibillion-dollar scandal involving a government fund.

The Prime Minister's Office said the letter of resignation was submitted at 13:00 local time (05:00 GMT). No other details were included in the statement.

It is not clear who will be the next prime minister - or if new elections will be called.

The 94-year-old has also resigned from Bersatu, the political party of which he was chairman.

Bersatu had been part of the ruling opposition alliance Pakatan Harapan, which Mahathir had joined in 2018 together with Anwar.

On Sunday, Anwar accused Mr Mahathir and his party of being "traitors", saying they had plans to form a new government, presumably without him.

But on Monday, Mahathir submitted his resignation.

Despite this, the BBC's South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head says Mahathir might not actually be ready to step down.

"At 94, Mahathir Mohammad is still the master manipulator of Malaysian politics, and few believe he is ready to step down, despite the dramatic offer of resignation he's just sent to the country's constitutional monarch," he said.

"It is possible, even likely, that Mahathir will remain as prime minister." The on-again off-again feud between Anwar and Mahathir is one that has dominated Malaysian politics for decades. (BBC)

Jakarta - Executive director of Bank Indonesia’s Communication Department Onny Widjanarko said members of the G20 have agreed to strengthen partnerships among nations to help recover the global economy amid the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. 

“G20 nations also agreed to strengthen its monitoring of global risks, especially the coronavirus outbreak. [The nations] are also urged to increase its awareness on other potential risks,” said Onny in a written statement today.

According to him, G20 members have agreed to implement a shared effective monetary, fiscal, and structural policy-making. This was mentioned in the meeting between the Indonesian Finance Ministry and central bank governors of G20 nations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 

Other global issues that pose risks to global economic growth include geopolitical tension, trade tension, and policy uncertainty. Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo reported;y supports the G20 presidency in regards of the development of the domestic capital market and underlines the importance of economic resilience as its starting point. 

In the financial sector, Onny said G20 nations’ central bank governors and finance ministers agree to focus its efforts upon strengthening the financial system through financial sector reform and technological utilization. 

G20 countries have also positively welcomed the plans by the Financial Stability Board (FSB), Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructure, and the Standard-Setting Bodies (SSBs) in strengthening cross-country payment system and preparing the transition from the initial London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) benchmark. (Tempo.co.id)

Photo Illustration: Indonesia's rupiah bills and the United States dollar bills (ANTARA)

Jakarta - Indonesia's rupiah opened lower by 128 points, or 0.93 percent, to Rp13,888 against the US dollar on Monday morning in the Jakarta interbank market amid corrections in Asia's currencies.

"All through the day, Indonesia's rupiah may remain weaken owing to external factors," TRFX Garuda Berjangka's director, Ibrahim Assuaibi, forecasted in Jakarta in connection with the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak that infected over 25 countries outside mainland China.

He estimated the rupiah to hover in the range of Rp13,689 to Rp13,810 against the dollar.

Meanwhile, Bank Indonesia's mid-rate on Monday showed that the rupiah plunged Rp13,863 against the dollar, while a day before, it was recorded at Rp13,777.

Following the outbreak, finance ministers and central bank governors of G20 countries committed to taking any necessary measures when the disease severely hit the global economy and business.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), in its presentation recently, forecast the outbreak may cut global economic growth by 0.1 percent. (ANTARA)

Jakarta - The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) has been predicted that heavy rain will likely to fall in some regions across Indonesia on February 22 to 24, 2020.

"Forecast for today and tomorrow is heavy and intense rain," Head of the Center of Public Meteorology of BMKG, A Fachri Rajab, told ANTARA in Jakarta on Sunday.

Heavy rainfall category has precipitation rate of 50 to 100 mm as observed for one day, while intense rainfall category is about 100 to 150 mm per day.

Indonesia is currently still experiencing the peak of rainy season, hence locals are encouraged to monitor the information of weather forecast from the official source, BMKG, as well as the early warning announced through its official website.

Some regions, as mentioned by BMKG, of Bangka Belitung Islands, Central Java, Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, Southeast Sulawesi and Maluku are potential to have heavy rainfall today, Sunday, Feb. 23.

It is predicted to continue through a day after on Monday, Feb. 24 over the same areas and Lampung.

While regions predicted to have heavy rainfall along with intense wind and thunderstorms on Sunday, Feb. 23 including West Sumatra, Bengkulu, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Java, Jakarta and surrounding cities, Yogyakarta, East Java, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, West Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, Gorontalo and Papua.

Most of the areas are predicted to have similar weather condition on Monday, Feb. 24. (ANTARA)