KUALA LUMPUR: After 15 years, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was sworn in once again as Malaysia’s prime minister.
Garbed in a black baju Melayu and gold sampin, the 92 year-old took his oath as the nation’s seventh prime minister before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Muhammad V, at the Istana Negara’s Balairong Seri at 9.55pm.
The ceremony began when His Majesty entered the throne room at 9.50pm.
After taking his oath to the office, loyalty and confidentiality, Dr Mahathir signed his appointment, followed by the reading of a ‘doa selamat’ by Federal Territories Mufti Datuk Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri.
Among those present were Dr Mahathir’s wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali; Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and wife Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman; PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail; DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng; and Parti Amanah Negara (PAN) president Mohamad Sabu.
Earlier this evening, Istana Negara had received the official results of 14th General Election from the Election Commission as well as a letter, supporting the appointment of Dr Mahathir as the nation’s seventh prime minister from the component members of the opposition.
The Agong, after verifying the documents, granted an audience to Dr Wan Azizah, Muhyiddin, Lim and Mohamad, before consenting to swear-in Dr Mahathir as prime minister.
In 14th General Election yesterday, the opposition won 135 out of 222 parliamentary seat to for a new Federal government.
Dr Mahathir won the Langkawi parliamentary seat with majority of 8,893 votes against incumbent Datuk Nawawi Ahmad from Barisan Nasional and Zubir Ahmad from Pas in three-cornered fight.
Born on July 10, 1925 in Alor Star, Dr Mahathir sworn in as the nation’s fourth prime minister on July 16, 1981.
He served the country for 22 years before stepping down in 2003, when he handed over the position to Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.