Malaysian prime minister to resign April 2

The Jakarta Post, The Associated Press, Kuala Lumpur | Sat, 03/28/2009 1:07 PM

Malaysia's prime minister says he will resign on April 2 to let his deputy to take over the government.

The hand-over will complete a power transition one year in the making after the ruling coalition's shock drubbing in general elections blamed on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's weak leadership.

Earlier this week, Abdullah stepped down as president of the ruling United Malays National Organization party in favor of Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Abdullah said in a speech to the party congress Saturday that he will meet the constitutional monarch on April 2 to convey his desire to step down. He says a ceremony to transfer power to Najib will be held later but gave no date.