NAJIB SWORN-IN AS PRIME MINISTER

KUALA LUMPUR, April 3 (Bernama) -- Najib Tun Razak was sworn in
as Malaysia's sixth prime minister Friday, taking over from Abdullah
Ahmad Badawi who stepped down after leading the country for over five years.

Najib 55, took his oath of office before King Tuanku Mizan
Zainal Abidin at National Palace.

Dressed in a black baju Melayu complete with sampin (Malay traditional
costume), Najib arrived at the palace at 9.42am, accompanied by his wife, Rosmah
Mansor. Together they entered the Balairong Seri (Throne Room) at 10am, followed
by Abdullah and his wife Jeanne Abdullah.

The dignitaries present included cabinet ministers, menteris besar, the
Senate president and the Lower House of Parliament speaker.

A total of 319 guests, including former prime minister Dr Mahathir
Mohamad and his wife, Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, attended the historic event.

The ceremony, steeped in tradition, began when Tuanku Mizan and Queen Tuanku
Zahirah entered the throne room at 10.05am and the national anthem was played by
the Malaysian Armed Forces band.

After taking his oaths of office, loyalty and confidentiality, Najib signed
the four instruments of appointment, followed by the reading of the doa selamat
(ceremonial prayer for divine protection).

The instruments of appointment were then signed by Court of Appeal President
Alauddin Mohd Sheriff as witness and handed over to Chief Secretary to
the Government, Mohd Sidek Hassan.

At the same ceremony, Abdullah and Jeanne were conferred the nation's
highest award, the Seri Maharaja Mangku Negara (SMN), which carries the title
"Tun", from Tuanku Mizan.

Najib was born in Kuala Lipis, Pahang, on July 23, 1953, and is the eldest
son of the late Abdul Razak Hussein, the nation's second prime minister, and
Hajah Rahah Mohd Noah.

His appointment is most significant in the country's history in that this
is the first time that a prime minister's son is holding the post.

His leadership capability began to surface when he was elected Pekan Umno
division Youth head in 1976 and he went on to become the country's youngest
Member of Parliament at the age of 22 when he won the Pekan seat unopposed in a
by-election following his father's death.

He then went from strength to strength in politics and government to reach
the pinnacle as United Malays National Organization (Umno) president and
Malaysia's prime minister.

-- BERNAMA