KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - Najib Razak was sworn in as Malaysias prime minister Friday, assuming charge of reuniting a fractured ruling party and shoring up an economy in crisis. Najib took the oath of office in front of the Malaysian king at a palace ceremony in Kuala Lumpur broadcast live on national television. The transfer of power follows the resignation Thursday of his predecessor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who analysts say failed to live up to his promises during six unremarkable years in office. I, Najib Razak, who has been chosen to hold the post of prime minister, swear that I will carry out the responsibilities which I have been entrusted with to the best of my ability, the 55-year-old said. I will be true to Malaysia and will defend and uphold the constitution. A religious official then read several verses from the Holy Quran to pray for a successful leadership. Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said he expected Najib to take a tough stance against critics in a bid to shore up his leadership, after the government last week acted to ban two opposition newspapers. We expect Najib to take tough and repressive actions to strengthen his position, he told AFP. Najib should free all political detainees held under the tough security laws, allow press freedom, ensure an independent police force and judiciary, he added. The new premier has been forced to reject charges that his administration would adopt hardline tactics, including the detention of its opponents, under tough internal security laws. Later at the countrys administrative capital Putrajaya south of here, Abdullah hugged Najib and handed over a blue folder in a symbolic exchange to conclude the transfer of power. Looking calm and relaxed, Abdullah then walked out the office and shook hands with senior ministers and bade farewell to hundreds of civil servants. Najibs accession to the premiership completes a transition triggered by elections last year when the ruling United Malays National Organisation party (UMNO) slumped to its worst ever performance. Abdullah, who was widely criticised as weak and ineffective, agreed several months ago to step down amid the fallout from those elections, which reshaped Malaysias political landscape. Najib, who was Abdullahs deputy and finance minister, became president of UMNO last week at its annual assembly, which was dominated by debate on how to overhaul the party and reclaim popular support. According to Malaysian political tradition, the party leader takes on the countrys premiership at the head of the UMNO-led Barisan Nasional coalition. Najib, the son and nephew of two former prime ministers, has said he will focus on uniting the multi-racial nation after ethnic minorities shifted to the opposition in the 2008 polls. Najib also faces the challenge of cushioning the countrys economy from the impact of the global economic crisis, which has sparked the loss of more than 26,000 jobs here since the beginning of the year. Last month he unveiled a stimulus package worth 16.2 billion dollars, but has warned that Malaysias export-driven economy could shrink by 1.0 percent this year despite the massive spending. However, analysts say that before he can begin to tackle these issues, he must first clear the air over opposition allegations linking him to the murder in 2006 of the mistress of his close aide a Mongolian woman whose body was blown up with military-grade explosives. These personal dilemmas of Najib have from today become national nightmares as they concern the honour of the highest office of the land and that of the nation, veteran opposition lawmaker Lim Kit Siang said.