Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said on Wednesday he has secured a "strong majority" from lawmakers in order to form a new government and was seeking an audience with the king to formalise his appointment as prime minister.

Anwar, who will need the king's assent to replace current premier Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, told a news conference his support from lawmakers "means that the administration of Muhyiddin has fallen".

The opposition leader's claim comes less than seven months after Muhyiddin clinched the premiership following political turmoil that saw the collapse of the previous administration under Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.