KING CONSENTS TO NAJIB'S APPOINTMENT AS SIXTH PM

PUTRAJAYA, April 3 (Bernama) -- King Tuanku Mizan Zainal
Abidin has consented to the appointment of Najib Tun Razak as the
sixth prime minister of Malaysia, Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd
Sidek Hassan announced Thursday.

He said in a statement that Najib would be presented his letter of
appointment as prime minister and would take his oath of office, loyalty and
confidentiality before the King at National Palace at 10am
Friday.

On Thursday morning, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had an audience with the King
over the letter relinquishing the post of prime
minister in accordance with the agreed transition of power from him to Najib.

Najib, who succeeded Abdullah as the United Malays National Organization
(Umno) president at the party general assembly last week, also had an audience
with the King at National Palace Thursday.

Abdullah was appointed the fifth prime minister of Malaysia on Oct 30 2003,
having succeeded Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

-- BERNAMA