Official handover today

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad will hand over the post of Prime Minister to Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi this afternoon.  

A Prime Minister’s Department spokesman said guests would gather at the throne room of Istana Negara at 2.30pm. 

Dr Mahathir's and Abdullah’s wives and children will be present among other dignitaries, including Cabinet ministers, Mentris Besar, Dewan Negara President and Dewan Rakyat Speaker, the Chief Justice, the Attorney-General, Defence Forces chief, the Inspector-General of Police, the Chief Secretary to the Government, Secretaries-General and heads of departments. 

Dr Mahathir and Abdullah will arrive separately and are expected to enter the throne room together at 3pm. 

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail will then enter to witness Abdullah taking his oath and signing the instrument of office. 

After a prayer, there will be a photograph session before Abdullah and Dr Mahathir return separately to the Prime Minister’s Department in Putrajaya. 

Dr Mahathir is expected to arrive at the Prime Minister’s office on the fifth floor at 4.10pm, followed by Abdullah five minutes later. They are expected to have a private session, the spokesman said. 

Dr Mahathir, who introduced the clock-in system for civil servants a month after he became prime minister, is expected to punch-out at 4.45pm. 

These events will be telecast live over RTM1 and TV3. 

Dr Mahathir and Abdullah will then proceed to the Laman Perdana, where their wives will be present, to meet all the Secretaries-General, heads of departments and staff of the Finance Ministry and the Prime Minister’s Department. 

After that, Dr Mahathir will return to his official residence, Seri Perdana. 

Abdullah is expected to arrive at the Prime Minister’s Department at 8am on Monday, the spokesman said. He will be greeted by the Secretaries-General, and the staff of the Prime Minister’s Department and the Finance Ministry. 

After punching-in at 8.15am, he will begin his duties in his new office, as Malaysia’s fifth prime minister. – Bernama 

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