KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 (ABC News) - Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has tendered his resignation to the king, becoming the South-East Asian country's shortest-ruling leader after conceding that he lost majority support to govern.

Science Minister Khairy Jamaluddin wrote on Instagram that "the Cabinet has tendered our resignation" to the king, shortly after Mr Muhyiddin left the palace after meeting the monarch.

The government, which took power in March 2020, has faced pressure from an opposition and public angered by its COVID-19 management.

Malaysia's infections and fatality rates per million people are the highest in South-East Asia.

It was not immediately clear who could form the next government, given no one has a clear majority in parliament, or whether elections could be held during the pandemic.

The decision is likely to be thrust into the hands of constitutional monarch King Al-Sultan Abdullah, who can appoint a prime minister from among elected lawmakers based on who he thinks is most likely to command a majority.