Mahathir hands over power to Abdullah

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, November 01, 2003

Mahathir hands over power to Abdullah

Outgoing Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad Friday afternoon officially handed over the leadership of the Federal Government to new Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

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Outgoing Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad Friday afternoon officially handed over the leadership of the Federal Government to new Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The historic transfer of power ceremony was held at the Prime Minister's Office on the Fifth Floor of the green-domed prime minister's department building in Putrajaya which is the seat of the Federal Government.

Abdullah, who will be 64 next month, was earlier sworn-in as the fifth Prime Minister of Malaysia before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Supreme Head of State) Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail at the State Palace in Kuala Lumpur.

At the ceremony, Mahathir handed over the desk file to signify the transfer of responsibilities of the high office to Abdullah inthe presence of Chief Secretary to the Government Samsudin Osman.

After the ceremony, Abdullah had a closed door meeting with Mahathir.

Outside, Cabinet Ministers, senior government officials and scores of ministry staff and hundreds of Putrajaya residents waited to bid farewell to Mahathir.

Abdullah, who was born on Nov. 26, 1939, in Kepala Betas, northern state of Penang, was appointed Deputy Prime Minister by Mahathir on Jan. 8, 1999, which was a Friday, like today, also in the month of Ramadan.

Mahathir then walked over to the lobby where he clocked out, witnessed by staff of the Prime Minister's Department.

The Prime Minister then walked with Mahathir and his wife Siti Hasmah Mohamed Ali to their car.

Mahathir spent about 20 minutes shaking hands with the officersand staff as he walked towards his car.

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