Outgoing Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Friday afternoon officially handed over the leadership of the Federal Government to new Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.
The transfer of power ceremony was held at the fifth floor of the Prime Minister's office in Putrajaya, the administrative center of Malaysia.
Najib, 55, was earlier sworn-in as the sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia before Supreme Head Mizan Zainal Abidin Istana Negara (National Palace) in Kuala Lumpur.
At the ceremony, Badawi handed over the blue desk file to signify the transfer of responsibilities of the high office to Najib in the presence of Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Sidek Hassan.
Najib succeeded Badawi as the president of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), the leading ruling party in the country, at the party general assembly last week.
Malaysian outgoing Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his wife attend the swearing in ceremony of Najib Tun Razak as Malaysia's new prime minister held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in this image from Malaysia TV1, April 3, 2009. Malaysia's new prime minister Najib, wearing a black traditional costume, was sworn in by Malaysia's Supreme Head Mizan Zainal Abidin at Istana Negara (National Palace) in Kuala Lumpur in a solemn ceremony on Friday.(Xinhua/Chong Voon Chung) Najib was born in Kuala Lipis, central Pahang state, on July 23,1953.
Najib entered Parliament at the age of 22 in 1976 upon the death of his father, Abdul Razak Hussein, who was Malaysia's second Prime Minister.
His appointment is most significant in Malaysia's history in that this is the first time that a prime minister's son is holding the post.
He became the country's youngest deputy minister in 1978 when he was made Deputy Minister of Energy, Telecommunications and Post. He became Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports in 1986.
Malaysian new Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak leaves the Istana Negara after the swearing in ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, April 3. 2009. Malaysia's new prime minister Najib, wearing a black traditional costume, was sworn in by Malaysia's Supreme Head Mizan Zainal Abidin at Istana Negara (National Palace) in Kuala Lumpur in a solemn ceremony on Friday. (Xinhua Photo) Other cabinet posts held by Najib were as the Education Minister from 1995 to 1999 and the defense portfolio twice. In 1993, he was elected an UMNO vice-president when he obtained 1,202votes.
He is an economics graduate of the University of Nottingham, Britain.
Source: Xinhua
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