Mr Abdullah, who took office in October 2003, was pressured to step down after the ruling National Front coalition suffered its worst results ever in general elections a year ago. --PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS
KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA'S king on Thursday accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi after six years in office, clearing the way for a smooth transfer of power to deputy Najib Razak.
MUTED TRIBUTES
On Thursday, Malaysian newspapers paid polite tributes to Mr Abdullah's time in office, noting his achievements but some columnists also wrote candidly about his failures.
'Thank You Pak Lah,' said the headline of a special pullout in the New Straits Times, referring to Mr Abdullah by his nickname.
PUTRAJAYA - Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is expected to be sworn in as Malaysia's next Prime Minister on Friday, the new role would be a heavy responsibility on his shoulders.
He said he felt a 'deep sense of humility' as the day approaches.
Mr Abdullah and then Najib met King Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin for successive audiences at the palace to seal the long-planned transition.
'PM Abdullah offered his resignation to the king. The king is understood to have accepted it,' a senior official told AFP. Government officials Wednesday said the king had agreed that Mr Najib could be sworn in as prime minister at 10am on Friday.
Mr Najib was last Thursday officially declared president of the United Malays National Organisation party, effectively smothing his path to the premiership because of its dominance of the political scene.
He said he would reveal details on Friday of the direction he wanted to take Malaysia amid economic crisis and political uncertainty, with the core of his roadmap being a programme aimed at uniting the multi-racial nation.
Analysts say he faces an enormous challenge to rejuvenate his UMNO party, which has floundered since disastrous election results last year, and cushion the country from the worst effects of the global meltdown.
Malaysia, Southeast Asia's third largest economy, has been hit by slumping exports and manufacturing, with more than 26,000 people losing their jobs so far this year. A slew of economic data for January underlined the scale of the problem.
Industrial output fell 20.2 per cent year-on-year, manufacturing sales sank 22.7 per cent and exports plunged 27.8 per cent to hit their lowest level since 2001.
Mr Najib, who is also finance minister, unveiled a stimulus package worth US$16.2 billion (S$24.5 billion) earlier this month, but warned that the export-driven economy could shrink by 1.0 per cent this year despite the massive spending.
He will face his first big test as prime minister next Tuesday with three by-elections that will be seen as a referendum on his fledgling leadership. -- AFP
