Razak to be sworn in Malaysian premier Friday

Thursday, 02 April 2009, 17:27 IST
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Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmed Badawi met the royal head of the state Thursday morning, paving the way for swearing in of his successor Najib Tun Razak as the premier Friday. Razak, who is the deputy prime minister, will be sworn in as the country's sixth prime minister since independence in 1957, Star Online said. Badawi had an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan (the royal constitutional head) Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin who consented to Razak being sworn in as prime minister Friday, chief secretary to the government Mohammed Sidek Hassan announced. In a statement issued late Wednesday night, Hassan said the king had consented to grant an audience to Badawi and Razak Thursday for Badawi to relinquish the post and seek consent to appoint Razak as the new prime minister. The king has given his consent for Razak to be presented his letter of appointment as prime minister and to take his oath of office, loyalty and confidentiality at Istana Negara at 10 a.m., Bernama, the official news agency reported. The change of guard was agreed upon last year after Badawi, elected for a second term, but with heavily reduced parliamentary majority, agreed to step down. His term would have normally ended in 2013. Razak, 57, on Wednesday said he was poised to take over the government's reins "in utmost humility".
Source: IANS