Najib Razak sworn in as the Prime Minister of Malaysia for the Second Term

Najib Razak on 6 May 2013 was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Malaysia for a second term by Malaysia’s king Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah.

The coalition of Najib Razak, Najib’s Barisan Nasional (National Front) which was ruling from of his 56-year once again retained power in elections but this time it was branded as fraudulent by the opposition.

Najib Razak’s party, the 13-party Barisan Nasional (National Front), secured 133 of the 222 parliamentary seats on 5May 2013.

The coalition that has ruled since independence in 1957 held off a well determined opposition challenge to retain a firm parliamentary majority in elections widely forecast to be the biggest-ever threat to the ruling bloc. It is important here to note that this time the vote saw a record turnout of more than 10 million people.

Najib Razak took office in 2009, and has faced rising public calls for reform. He has responded with some limited liberalisation moves while his critics dismiss it as superficial steps that darted deep change to avoid upsetting ruling elite.

A Brief Insight into Najib Razak’s Political Career

• Najib Razak became the sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia in year 2009.
• He previously held the post of Deputy Prime Minister from 7 January 2004 and has succeeded Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to become the Prime Minister on 3 April 2009.
• Najib Razak was first assigned into the Cabinet of Malaysia I year 1978 where he was appointed Deputy Minister of Energy, Telecommunications and Post.
• In Year 1991, Najib was appointed Minister of Defence.
• In Year 1995, Najib Rzak left the Defense Ministry and was appointed as the Minister of Education.
• In September 2008, Najib  Razak overtook  the control of the Ministry of Finance.