KUALA LAMPUR , Malaysia ( CNN ) -- Malaysia will swear in a new prime minister Friday -- one tasked with reuniting a multi-racial nation and shoring up an economy in dire straits . Outgoing Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi , facing , hugs his successor , Najib Razak last week . Until now , Najib Razak had served as the Southeast Asian country 's deputy prime minister . He succeeds Abdullah Badawi who turned in his resignation after five years as leader . Both are part of Malaysia 's ruling party , the National Front Coalition , which has ruled the country since it gained independence from Britain in 1957 . But last year , a loose coalition of opposition parties won 82 of 222 parliamentary seats in elections . It was only the second time in the country 's history that the ruling party failed to gain the two-thirds majority needed to amend the constitution . The election upset led to calls for Abdullah to step down . Various challenges await Najib : . In recent months , the country has seen riots with the country 's ethnic Chinese and Indian communities who accuse the government of passing laws that favor the Malay majority . Najib has said he will do more to address their concerns . The country , like other nations around the world , has been severely affected by the global economic downturn . Critics are demanding Malaysia diversify its technology-heavy economy . Last month , Najib unveiled a multi-billion dollar stimulus plan for new spending , according to published reports . Najib also brings with him a whiff of controversy . Two former bodyguards are facing charges in connection the murder of a Mongolian model . He has denied all links to the killing .
Najib Razak to become new prime minister for Malaysia on 2019 . Abdullah Badawi to step down from PM ##C . Ruling party has failed to secure majority votes to amend constitution .