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Malaysian prime minister sworn in | Malaysian prime minister sworn in |
(about 12 hours later) | |
Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has been sworn in, two days after his coalition suffered its worst election result in five decades. | Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has been sworn in, two days after his coalition suffered its worst election result in five decades. |
Mr Abdullah took the oath of office at the national palace in Kuala Lumpur. | Mr Abdullah took the oath of office at the national palace in Kuala Lumpur. |
The prime minister has faced calls for his resignation in the wake of Saturday's polls. | The prime minister has faced calls for his resignation in the wake of Saturday's polls. |
The ruling National Front won more than half of all seats in parliament, but it still suffered unprecedented losses and lost its two-thirds majority. | |
The government had expected a drop in support amid growing concern over ethnic tensions in multi-cultural Malaysia and unease over rising food prices. | The government had expected a drop in support amid growing concern over ethnic tensions in multi-cultural Malaysia and unease over rising food prices. |
But the result was worse than anticipated, with the opposition making sizeable gains. Many voters from Indian and Chinese minorities - who make up more than a third of the population - failed to turn out for the coalition. | But the result was worse than anticipated, with the opposition making sizeable gains. Many voters from Indian and Chinese minorities - who make up more than a third of the population - failed to turn out for the coalition. |
On Monday, Malaysian shares fell to a seven-month low amid concern over the political uncertainty. | On Monday, Malaysian shares fell to a seven-month low amid concern over the political uncertainty. |
Race relations | Race relations |
Mr Abdullah was sworn in for a second five-year term in by Malaysia's king in a televised ceremony. | Mr Abdullah was sworn in for a second five-year term in by Malaysia's king in a televised ceremony. |
"I pledge to carry out my duties honestly and with all my abilities," he said. | "I pledge to carry out my duties honestly and with all my abilities," he said. |
On Sunday, former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad called on the man he handpicked to succeed him to step down. | On Sunday, former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad called on the man he handpicked to succeed him to step down. |
"I think he should accept responsibility for this. He should accept 100% responsibility," he said. | "I think he should accept responsibility for this. He should accept 100% responsibility," he said. |
But Mr Abdullah appeared to rule out resignation. | But Mr Abdullah appeared to rule out resignation. |
"I will not step down from any post because I feel no pressure," he told journalists on Sunday. | "I will not step down from any post because I feel no pressure," he told journalists on Sunday. |
His coalition controls 139 of the 222 seats in parliament. But the opposition won more than 80 seats, up from 19 in the previous parliament. | His coalition controls 139 of the 222 seats in parliament. But the opposition won more than 80 seats, up from 19 in the previous parliament. |
The opposition also increased its control of states from one to five, with wins in Selangor, Perak, Kedah and Penang, as well as in Kelantan. | The opposition also increased its control of states from one to five, with wins in Selangor, Perak, Kedah and Penang, as well as in Kelantan. |
Analysts have partly attributed the result to fears over worsening relations between Malaysia's different ethnic groups. | Analysts have partly attributed the result to fears over worsening relations between Malaysia's different ethnic groups. |
Late last year, 10,000 Malaysian Indians turned out in Kuala Lumpur to protest against policies favouring ethnic Malay Muslims. | Late last year, 10,000 Malaysian Indians turned out in Kuala Lumpur to protest against policies favouring ethnic Malay Muslims. |
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