Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

Abdullah, who took over from veteran leader Mahathir Mohamad five months ago, took the oath before King Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin at the national palace in the capital Kuala Lumpur.

Abdullah's secular National Front was returned to power with a massive majority -- 198 of 219 seats -- in the federal Parliament.

Voters March 21 overwhelmingly rejected the hardline policies of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, known as PAS, in favor of Abdullah's promises of a moderate form of Islam and cleaner government after Mahathir, who retired in October after 22 years in power.

The Japan Times Weekly: March 27, 2004
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