Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak was sworn in Kuala Lumpur on Friday as Malaysia's new prime minister.

Najib, wearing a black traditional costume, was sworn in by Malaysia's Supreme Head Mizan Zainal Abidin at Istana Negara (National Palace) in Kuala Lumpur in a solemn ceremony, local TV footage showed.

Also attending were outgoing Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and other senior ministers.

Badawi is expected to hand over his duties to Najib at the Prime Minister's office in Putrajaya, the administrative center of Malaysia, at 4 p.m. (0800 GMT) Friday.

(Xinhua News Agency April 3, 2009)