Deputy replaces PM to confront crisis

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi officially left his post on Thursday after six years in office. His replacement is Najib Razak who is also finance minister, giving rise to hope that he can lift the nation out of the financial crisis.Malaysia's king Thursday accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi after six years in office, clearing the way for a smooth transfer of power to deputy Najib Razak.Abdullah and then Najib met King Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin for successive audiences at the palace to seal the long-planned transition."PM Abdullah offered his resignation to the king. The king is understood to have accepted it," a senior official told AFP on condition of anonymity.Government officials Wednesday said the king had agreed that Najib could be sworn in as prime minister at 0200 GMT Friday.Najib was last Thursday officially declared president of the United Malays National Organisation party, effectively smothing his path to the premiership because of its dominance of the political scene.He said he would reveal details Friday of the direction he wanted to take Malaysia amid economic crisis and political uncertainty, with the core of his roadmap being a programme aimed at uniting the multi-racial nation."I think this new thrust will ensure there will be a fairer distribution of government allocations and assistance to all communities," he said Wednesday.Analysts say he faces an enormous challenge to rejuvenate his UMNO party, which has floundered since disastrous election results last year, and cushion the country from the worst effects of the global meltdown.Malaysia, Southeast Asia's third largest economy, has been hit by slumping exports and manufacturing, with more than 26,000 people losing their jobs so far this year.