Malaysian lawmakers swear an oath, including former chief charged



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Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is sworn in at the swearing-in ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Monday, July 16, 2018. Malay legislators were sworn in before Parliament. The swearing-in ceremony of 221 deputies marked the beginning of the first session of Parliament after the overthrow of Najib's coalition in the May 9 elections, ushering in the first change of power in Malaysia since the independence of the Great Britain in 1957. (Yam G-Jun / Associated Press Associated Press

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Malay legislators were sworn in before Parliament on Monday, including the United States. Former Prime Minister Najib Razak, who was indicted The inaugural ceremony of 221 legislators opened the first session of Parliament after Najib's coalition was overthrown in the May 9 elections, marking the beginning of the first change of power of Malaysia since the electoral defeat, the independence of Britain in 1957.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, the world's oldest leader at age 93, made his mark ur in Parliament for the first time in 15 years after ending his retirement. o challenge Najib on the corruption scandal.

Najib won his parliamentary seat despite the defeat of his coalition. A legislator is disqualified only if he is convicted and sentenced to more than one year in prison or a fine of more than 2,000 ringgits ($ 494).

"I accept it because I want to serve the people. I want to be a member of the constructive opposition and play a role in ensuring that democracy in our country is meaningful and healthy, "Najib told reporters, when he asked how he felt sitting on the bench of the day. Opposition

earlier this month, accused of abuse of trust and abuse of power, which makes him one of the few leaders of Asia of Southeast to be sued after losing office.His case is related to the state investment fund 1MDB that he created when he took power in 2009 but who has accumulated billions of debts and triggered investigations in the United States, Switzerland and several other countries.

Mahathir reopened his investigations on 1MDB were smothered under Najib's rule and prevented Najib and his wife from leaving the country.

Najib denies any wrongdoing and accused the new government of continuing a The police also seized jewels and valuables worth more than 1.1 billion ringgit ($ 273 million) from properties related to Najib.

Prosecutors allege that Najib's partners looted and laundered at least $ 4.5 billion of the fund. Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber said last month that the fraud could cost up to $ 7 billion.

Earlier, Najib and dozens of opposition lawmakers briefly ousted the new president of the lower house. Mr. Najib said the strike was not a rejection of the new president, but the government's failure to give 14 days' notice to the House when he was appointed.

Only one of the 222 legislators of Parliament was absent for swearing … to the Minister of the Interior, Muhyiddin Yassin, who is recovering from a surgical operation

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