Embattled Malaysian PM sworn in for second term
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was sworn in for a second term Monday, defying calls to quit after presiding over the ruling coalition's worst ever election performance.
Dressed in a traditional costume and matching "songkok" hat, Abdullah took an oath before Malaysia's King Mizan Zainal Abidin in a solemn ceremony at the royal palace in Kuala Lumpur.
Also attending were his heir apparent, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak, and other senior ministers who then went into a meeting of the dominant United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) which leads the Barisan Nasional coalition.
Abdullah's coalition was mauled in Saturday's election, losing its crucial two-thirds majority in parliament for the first time since 1969 and conceding four states to the resurgent opposition, which now controls five in all.
Voters punished the government for rising inflation and its mishandling of racial tensions, leading to a backlash from Malaysia's minority ethnic Chinese and Indians as well as Muslim Malays who form its powerbase.
But Abdullah told supporters he would not quit.
"Why should I step down?" he told a cheering crowd outside his home late Sunday. "Our party has won. I do not fear anyone except Allah. I will stay on, I will not give up.
"We have to continue our struggle, our agenda is far from over. We want our country to be progressive and successful and for you, the people, to be happy," he added.
Government heavyweights lined up to pledge their continuing allegiance to the premier, led by Najib who urged the ruling party to "close ranks" to face the challenge posed by the electoral setback.
But veteran leader Mahathir Mohamad, who ruled for two decades before handing power to Abdullah as his chosen successor in 2003, accused the prime minister of "destroying" the coalition and led calls for his resignation.
"I think he should accept responsibility for this. He should accept 100 percent responsibility," Mahathir said Sunday.
"I am sorry, but I apparently made the wrong choice."
However there was support for Abdullah from abroad, with the United States signalling it was ready to keep up close cooperation with the government and saying he remained a viable partner.
Abdullah's task now is to form a new government under the Barisan Nasional coalition, made up of 14 race-based parties including ethnic Chinese and Indian parties that were annihilated in the polls.
Meanwhile the opposition, led by former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim -- who has made a stunning political comeback after his sacking and jailing a decade ago -- was getting down to business.
The opposition parties -- Anwar's Keadilan, the Chinese-based Democratic Action Party (DAP) and the Islamic party PAS -- won an unprecedented four states in the polls.
PAS also extended its margin in northern Kelantan state, which it had held by a thin majority.
State media said PAS would appoint chief ministers in Kedah and Perak while a DAP figure will preside in Penang and a Keadilan chief minister will run Selangor.
Anwar said late Sunday that the coalition parties would be able to put aside their ideological differences and govern effectively.
He said they would "focus on the economic issue and trying to resolve some of the problems affecting the masses, particularly in the issue of poverty and the normal needs of an average citizen.
"What was promised will be enforced with the best of ability."
Anwar is banned from holding public office until April due to a conviction for corruption, and he said his plans to enter parliament in a by-election were on hold until he consolidated his party's gains.
Malaysia's bourse was shaken by the political earthquake, with share prices plunging 7.7 percent by mid-session.
