(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-10 13:31

KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was sworn in for a new five-year term in office Monday at the national palace.

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi gestures as he speaks to his supporters at his residence in Putrajaya March 9, 2008. Abdullah was sworn in for a new five-year term in office Monday at the national palace. [Agencies]

Badawi, wearing a black traditional costume, was sworn in by Malaysia's Supreme Head Mizan Zainal Abidin at the national palace in Kuala Lumpur in a solemn ceremony, local TV footage showed.

At the ceremony, which took about 20 minutes, Badawi signed the instrument of appointment before Chief Justice Abdul Hamid Mohamad, which was witnessed by the Chief Secretary to the Government, Mohd Sidek Hassan.

Also attending were Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak and other senior ministers.

Badawi, 68, was sworn in two days after his ruling coalition Barisan Nasional, or National Front, won 140 of the 222 parliamentary seats on generation election day on March 8.

The National Front coalition, consisted of 14 parties, has ruled Malaysia since independence from Britain in 1957.

The prime minister made his first term following the retirement of his predecessor Mahathir Mohamad on October 31, 2003.