Embattled Malaysian PM sworn in for second term

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KUALA LUMPUR, Mar 10 (AFP): Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was sworn in for a second term Monday, defying calls to quit after presiding over the ruling coalition's worst ever election performance.
Dressed in a traditional costume and matching "songkok" hat, Abdullah took an oath before Malaysia's King Mizan Zainal Abidin in a solemn ceremony at the royal palace in Kuala Lumpur.
Also attending were his heir apparent, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak, and other senior ministers who then went into a meeting of the dominant United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) which leads the Barisan Nasional coalition.
Abdullah's coalition was mauled in Saturday's election, losing its crucial two-thirds majority in parliament for the first time since 1969 and conceding four states to the resurgent opposition, which now controls five in all.
Voters punished the government for rising inflation and its mishandling of racial tensions, leading to a backlash from Malaysia's minority ethnic Chinese and Indians as well as Muslim Malays who form its powerbase.
But Abdullah told supporters he would not quit.
"Why should I step down?" he told a cheering crowd outside his home late Sunday. "Our party has won. I do not fear anyone except Allah. I will stay on, I will not give up.
"We have to continue our struggle, our agenda is far from over. We want our country to be progressive and successful and for you, the people, to be happy," he added.
Government heavyweights lined up to pledge their continuing allegiance to the premier, led by Najib who urged the ruling party to "close ranks" to face the challenge posed by the electoral setback.
But veteran leader Mahathir Mohamad, who ruled for two decades before handing power to Abdullah as his chosen successor in 2003, accused the prime minister of "destroying" the coalition and led calls for his resignation.