Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was sworn in as Malaysia’s sixth prime minister Friday, taking over from Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who stepped down after leading the country for over five years.
Najib 55, took his oath of office before Yang di Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin at Istana Negara.
Dressed in a black baju Melayu complete with sampin, Najib arrived at the palace, accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor. Together they entered the Balairong Seri at 10am, followed by Abdullah and his wife, Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah.
Najib signing his letter of appointment as Prime Minister.
A total of 319 guests, including former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, attended the historic event.
The ceremony, steeped in tradition, began when Tuanku Mizan and Raja Permaisuri Agong 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.
The instruments of appointment were then signed by Court of Appeal President Tan Sri Alauddin Mohd Sheriff as witness and handed over to Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan.
At the same ceremony, Abdullah was conferred the nation’s highest award, the Seri Maharaja Mangku Negara (SMN), while Jeanne received the Seri Setia Mahkota (SSM) by Tuanku Mizan. Both awards carry the title Tun.
The handing over of the Prime Minister’s duties from Abdullah to Najib took place about 4.50pm at the fifth floor of the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya.
Abdullah hands over to Najib the Prime Minister’s blue desk file to signify the official handing over of duties and responsibilities.
At the ceremony, Abdullah handed to Najib the Prime Minister’s blue desk file to signify the official handing over of duties and responsibilities.
Najib was born in Kuala Lipis, Pahang, on July 23, 1953, and is the eldest son of the late Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, the nation’s second prime minister, and Tun 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 Umno president and Malaysia’s prime minister.
Time line of Najib's swearing in as PM on Friday
Najib 55, took his oath of office before Yang di Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin at Istana Negara.
Dressed in a black baju Melayu complete with sampin, Najib arrived at the palace, accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor. Together they entered the Balairong Seri at 10am, followed by Abdullah and his wife, Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah.
Najib signing his letter of appointment as Prime Minister.
A total of 319 guests, including former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, attended the historic event.
The ceremony, steeped in tradition, began when Tuanku Mizan and Raja Permaisuri Agong 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.
The instruments of appointment were then signed by Court of Appeal President Tan Sri Alauddin Mohd Sheriff as witness and handed over to Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan.
At the same ceremony, Abdullah was conferred the nation’s highest award, the Seri Maharaja Mangku Negara (SMN), while Jeanne received the Seri Setia Mahkota (SSM) by Tuanku Mizan. Both awards carry the title Tun.
The handing over of the Prime Minister’s duties from Abdullah to Najib took place about 4.50pm at the fifth floor of the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya.
Abdullah hands over to Najib the Prime Minister’s blue desk file to signify the official handing over of duties and responsibilities.
At the ceremony, Abdullah handed to Najib the Prime Minister’s blue desk file to signify the official handing over of duties and responsibilities.
Najib was born in Kuala Lipis, Pahang, on July 23, 1953, and is the eldest son of the late Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, the nation’s second prime minister, and Tun 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 Umno president and Malaysia’s prime minister.
Time line of Najib's swearing in as PM on Friday
Handover of duties of PM
04.50pm: Abdullah officially hands over his duties as PM to Najib.
04.10pm: Najib and his wife Rosmah arrive at Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya for the handing over of duties as PM ceremony from Abdullah to him.
03.55pm: Abdullah and his wife Jeanne arrive at Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya for the handing over of duties as PM ceremony from him to Najib.
04.10pm: Najib and his wife Rosmah arrive at Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya for the handing over of duties as PM ceremony from Abdullah to him.
03.55pm: Abdullah and his wife Jeanne arrive at Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya for the handing over of duties as PM ceremony from him to Najib.
Swearing in ceremony
10.27am: Swearing in ceremony of Najib as PM ends.
10.25am: Abdullah’s wife Jeanne conferred the Darjah Seri Setia Mahkota Negara, which also carries the title Tun.
10.23am: Abdullah conferred the nation's highest award, Darjah Seri Maharaja Mangku Negara, which carries the title Tun.
10.10am: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak sworn in as Prime Minister before the Yang di Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin at Istana Negara.The swearing in ceremony is also witnessed by the two previous Prime Ministers, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
09.55am: King arrives for swearing in ceremony.
09.45am: Abdullah and Najib arrive at Istana Negara.
09.30am: Ministers and officials gather at Istana Negara. Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad also arrives at the Palace.
10.25am: Abdullah’s wife Jeanne conferred the Darjah Seri Setia Mahkota Negara, which also carries the title Tun.
10.23am: Abdullah conferred the nation's highest award, Darjah Seri Maharaja Mangku Negara, which carries the title Tun.
10.10am: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak sworn in as Prime Minister before the Yang di Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin at Istana Negara.The swearing in ceremony is also witnessed by the two previous Prime Ministers, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
09.55am: King arrives for swearing in ceremony.
09.45am: Abdullah and Najib arrive at Istana Negara.
09.30am: Ministers and officials gather at Istana Negara. Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad also arrives at the Palace.
Najib Razak was sworn in as Malaysia's prime minister Friday, assuming charge of reuniting a fractured ruling party and shoring up an economy in crisis.
Najib took the oath of office in front of the Malaysian king at a palace ceremony in Kuala Lumpur broadcast live on national television.
The transfer of power follows the resignation Thursday of his predecessor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who analysts say failed to live up to his promises during six unremarkable years in office.
"I, Najib Razak, who has been chosen to hold the post of prime minister, swear that I will carry out the responsibilities which I have been entrusted with to the best of my ability," the 55-year-old said.
"I will be true to Malaysia and will defend and uphold the constitution."
In his first act as premier, Najib announced in an eight-minute live broadcast to the nation that he was revoking the ban on two newspapers and releasing 13 people held under the tough Internal Security Act (ISA).
He said the government would also conduct a comprehensive review of the ISA, which critics say has been abused by the government to silence opponents.
"These decisions are timely as we move to enhance the confidence of our citizens in those entrusted with maintaining peace, law and order," Najib added.
Officials said the two papers were Suara Keadilan, run by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's Keadilan party, and Harakah, published by the Islamic party PAS, which had been banned for three months earlier this month after they reported on a political crisis in northern Perak state in February.
Anwar had called for Najib to release all political detainees held under the ISA but said he expected the new premier to take a tough stance against critics.
The new premier has rejected charges that his administration would adopt hardline tactics, including the detention of its opponents, under the internal security laws.
Najib's accession to the premiership completes a transition triggered by elections last year when the ruling United Malays National Organisation party (UMNO) slumped to its worst ever performance.
Abdullah, who was widely criticised as weak and ineffective, agreed several months ago to step down amid the fallout from those elections, which reshaped Malaysia's political landscape.
Najib, who was Abdullah's deputy and finance minister, became president of UMNO last week at its annual assembly, which was dominated by debate on how to overhaul the party and reclaim popular support.
According to Malaysian political tradition, the party leader takes on the country's premiership at the head of the UMNO-led Barisan Nasional coalition.
Najib, the son and nephew of two former prime ministers, has said he will focus on uniting the multi-racial nation after ethnic minorities shifted to the opposition in the 2008 polls.
Malaysia's population is dominated by Muslim Malays, and the country's ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities fear their rights are being eroded as it becomes increasingly "Islamised."
Najib also faces the challenge of cushioning the country's economy from the impact of the global economic crisis, which has sparked the loss of more than 26,000 jobs here since the beginning of the year.
Last month he unveiled a stimulus package worth 60.0 billion dollars, but has warned that Malaysia's export-driven economy could shrink by 1.0 percent this year despite the massive spending.
Najib took the oath of office in front of the Malaysian king at a palace ceremony in Kuala Lumpur broadcast live on national television.
The transfer of power follows the resignation Thursday of his predecessor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who analysts say failed to live up to his promises during six unremarkable years in office.
"I, Najib Razak, who has been chosen to hold the post of prime minister, swear that I will carry out the responsibilities which I have been entrusted with to the best of my ability," the 55-year-old said.
"I will be true to Malaysia and will defend and uphold the constitution."
In his first act as premier, Najib announced in an eight-minute live broadcast to the nation that he was revoking the ban on two newspapers and releasing 13 people held under the tough Internal Security Act (ISA).
He said the government would also conduct a comprehensive review of the ISA, which critics say has been abused by the government to silence opponents.
"These decisions are timely as we move to enhance the confidence of our citizens in those entrusted with maintaining peace, law and order," Najib added.
Officials said the two papers were Suara Keadilan, run by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's Keadilan party, and Harakah, published by the Islamic party PAS, which had been banned for three months earlier this month after they reported on a political crisis in northern Perak state in February.
Anwar had called for Najib to release all political detainees held under the ISA but said he expected the new premier to take a tough stance against critics.
The new premier has rejected charges that his administration would adopt hardline tactics, including the detention of its opponents, under the internal security laws.
Najib's accession to the premiership completes a transition triggered by elections last year when the ruling United Malays National Organisation party (UMNO) slumped to its worst ever performance.
Abdullah, who was widely criticised as weak and ineffective, agreed several months ago to step down amid the fallout from those elections, which reshaped Malaysia's political landscape.
Najib, who was Abdullah's deputy and finance minister, became president of UMNO last week at its annual assembly, which was dominated by debate on how to overhaul the party and reclaim popular support.
According to Malaysian political tradition, the party leader takes on the country's premiership at the head of the UMNO-led Barisan Nasional coalition.
Najib, the son and nephew of two former prime ministers, has said he will focus on uniting the multi-racial nation after ethnic minorities shifted to the opposition in the 2008 polls.
Malaysia's population is dominated by Muslim Malays, and the country's ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities fear their rights are being eroded as it becomes increasingly "Islamised."
Najib also faces the challenge of cushioning the country's economy from the impact of the global economic crisis, which has sparked the loss of more than 26,000 jobs here since the beginning of the year.
Last month he unveiled a stimulus package worth 60.0 billion dollars, but has warned that Malaysia's export-driven economy could shrink by 1.0 percent this year despite the massive spending.
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