Tuesday May 7, 2013

GE13: Najib sworn in as Prime Minister

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has taken the oath of office as Prime Minister before Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah at Balai Rong Seri in Istana Negara.

Also present was Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Hajah Haminah.

Najib, accompanied by wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, was sworn in at 4.07pm yesterday before the same King who witnessed the oath taking by his father, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, as the second prime minister of Malaysia in 1970.

In Sunday's general election, Barisan Nasional returned to power when it won 133 of the 222 parliamentary seats to form the Federal Government.

Also present at the ceremony were former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and leaders of Barisan component parties, according to Bernama.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah presenting the letter of appointment to Najib after the swearing-in ceremony at Istana Negara. -Bernama

Meanwhile, outside Istana Negara, YVONNE LIM reported that tourists gathered to catch a glimpse of the 59-year-old Prime Minister.

Camera shutters flickered as Najib approached the palace gates at 3.50pm in a black Proton Perdana, accompanied by outriders.

He then wound down his car window to salute the palace Guard of Honour as he entered the compound.

He wore a dark coloured baju Melayu and a gold-coloured songket.

Despite the brief afternoon rain, reporters waited for close to two hours outside the gates in hopes of speaking to the Prime Minister.

However, he did not stop to talk to the press as he left the palace compound at 5.30pm.

Meanwhile, Najib has summoned all newly-elected Barisan Nasional MPs to a special meeting with him today.

<b>Solemn ceremony:</b> Najib signing his letter of appointment as Prime Minister before the King at Balai Rong Seri in Istana Negara. —Bernama

Solemn ceremony: Najib signing his letter of appointment as Prime Minister before the King at Balai Rong Seri in Istana Negara. —Bernama

The Barisan chairman is expected to brief the 133 MPs on what he expects from them.

Najib is expected to direct the coalition's elected representatives to begin work immediately to fulfil Barisan's election pledges.

The meeting is scheduled to take place at the Putra World Trade Centre at 10am.

For more election stories, please visit The Star's GE13 site

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