Kuala Lumpur(9News Nigeria) – Former Malaysian prime minister, Dr. Tun Mahathir Mohammad has been sworn in today, as the 7th Prime Minister of the country.
The swearing in took place at the palace of Malaysia’s constitutional monarch, Yang di Pertuan Agog,Muhammad V of Kelantan.
The King was reported to have delayed the swearing in, leaving the prime ministerial candidate waiting for about 4 hours. A communique later released from the palace declared that the waiting was for the palace to confirm the consent of the four coalition parties in forming government with Dr. Mahathir.
Dr. Mahathir was declared winner of the country’s general election that took place yesterday, Wednesday May 9th 2018, after his party, Pakatan Harapan (PH) and four other coalition parties outperformed the ruling party, Barisan National (BN) under the leadership of the hitherto Prime Minister, Najib Rasak.
In spite of several controversies and fierce and aggressive opposition that trailed the election campaign, the outgoing prime minister, Najib did not question the outcome of the election which turned against him and his party, but was courageous and patriotic enough to quickly accept the result of the election.
Najib in his speech said that he accepted the election result as depicting the will of the Malaysian people. He however cited some incidents of foul play, but said he had no option than to accept the result.
He sent his acceptance message and congratulated Dr. Mahathir, who had ruled the country for two decades before handing over to Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2006.
Dr. Mahathir had granted press conferences after the win, assuring Malaysians that their decision to return him to power was a positive and expedient one, that needed not to be marred by any misgiving.
He also promised to return power to his former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, whom he fired in 1998, and was subjected to lingered litigations after he was charged with sodomy.
Dr. Mahathir is now officially the world’s oldest leader, followed byPaul Biya of Cameroon and Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, both in Africa.
Report by: Obinna Ejianya @obinna_ejianya
9News Nigeria @9NewsNG
