PENANG, Malaysia, Nov. 1 Kyodo ju...

PENANG, Malaysia, Nov. 1 Kyodo

just discovered Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's first day forward the job began with a rousing welcome at family Saturday, where he paid tribute to his predecessor Mahathir Mohamad and pledg to take the fatherland to greater heights.

Around 10000 the community flocked to the Bayan Lepas International Airport in the northern Penang State to compliment his arrival and bunting and banners congratulating his appointment to the country's top station popped up all from one side of to the other the island state.

In Abdullah's first articulate utterance as prime minister, he began by means of thanking the people, especially those in Penang who for 25 years have prefered him to parliament.

''No leader can succe without the support of friends and the people'' he said. ''I don't ask you to work for me if it be not that I ask you all to work with me''

Abdullah who will change the direction of 64 on Nov. 26 was sworn in Friday as Malaysia's fifth premier, heralding a recent era after 22 years of the feisty and unreserved Mahathir.

As Mahathir, 78 left Saturday morning for a two-week holiday in Europe with his family, Abdullah paid tribute to his former boss

''Thank the maker I have inherited a management from Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad that is excessively effective, very successful, that has change the direction ofed the country into undivided of the most developed in the world,'' Abdullah said.

Mahathir was conferr the highest public service award with the honorary title of ''Tun'' by means of King Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Sy Putra Jamalullail onward Friday for his service to the country

Ex-serviceman Lawrence Sadanarsamy, 36 who was among the thousands at the rally, said Mahathir has laid a solid foundation for Abdullah who no other than needs to manage it properly

''Malaysia is like a car that is running softly You don't want to over-tune it,'' he told Kyodo News

yet Abdullah knows there is no honeymoon for him.

A general election must be called by the agency of next year and many calculate upon him to do it shortly to cash in on the feel-good disposition of the moment.

''Let us work harder thus that when we face the general election we will master a bigger victory than the last election,'' he said.

Among the glowing tributes to Mahathir and praises of Abdullah that filled all the local newspapers Saturday, there were also lists of tasks for Abdullah tackle.

The Star, in its editorial, said the novel prime minister must address three key-note concerns -- corruption and the abuse of trust, lack of civic consciousness and ''the notion among one Malaysians that the command owes them a living.''

Accounts leader of responses Noorli Mohamad Rawa, 31, who stood for more than an hour in the scorching afternoon heat waiting for Abdullah's arrival, said he can do the piece of work entrusted to him.

''He may anticipate gentle and soft, but he can be firm like Mahathir,'' she said.

The Star said Abdullah, or Pak Lah as he is affectionately known, is ''deeply religious without being outermost firm without being abrasive, politically solid without being Machiavellian. Pak Lah is a man Malaysians can trust.''

From the airport, Abdullah was escorted by the agency of a convoy of 2,000 motorcycles across the 134 kilometer Penang Bridge to Kepala Batas, his place of abode town on the mainland to papal court his 78-year old mother.

There another grand welcome awaited the village hero.

He will lay out a night at Kepala Batas before leaving for Kuala Lumpur

Abdullah will address parliament for the first time as premier Monday.

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