Malaysian former PM resigns from UMNO President, BN Chairman hinh anh 1Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Najib Razak (middle) (Source: xinhua/VNA)

Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Najib Razak has officially announced his resignation as President of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party and Barisan Nasional (BN) Chairman.

At a media conference at the UMNO headquarters in Menara Dato' Onn, Kuala Lumpur on May 12, Najib said that his resignation was due to the failure of the party during the recent election, during which the party only won 79 out of 222 seats at the Lower House.

He also announced that UMNO Vice President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will take on the duties of the party’s President.

Earlier the same day, the Malaysia Department of Immigration banned Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor from going out of Malaysia.

Meanwhile, the newly-elected Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad has unveiled only three leaders out of the 10 core ministries in his streamlined administration.

The PM announced Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as Home Minister, while DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng will helm the Finance Ministry and Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu will take on the Defence Ministry.

The other seven ministers, Economy, Education, Multimedia Science and Technology; Rural Development, Public Works, Transport and Foreign, are expected to be announced next week.

Mahathir Mohamad, 92, was officially sworn in as Prime Minister of Malaysia on May 10, becoming the oldest government leader in the world.-VNA
VNA