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Malaysian Prime Minister Badawi ties the knot, again

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi remarried behind closed doors yesterday before heading to the cemetery to pay respects to his late first wife.

Aides confirmed that Abdullah, 67, had exchanged rings with 53-year-old Jeanne Abdullah, his petite former sister-in-law, in a private ceremony for close family at his residence.

The family was then due to visit the nearby grave of Abdullah's first wife, Endon, who died of breast cancer in October 2005.

A small crowd of well-wishers braved scorching afternoon temperatures to wait outside Abdullah's Seri Perdana residence, excitedly taking pictures and waiting for a first glimpse of the new couple.

The couple have never been seen together in public and the prime minister had long brushed off speculation about their romance.

But on Wednesday he stunned the country by announcing he was getting married again.

His marriage to Endon was widely seen as a model relationship in Malaysia, as they were regularly seen holding hands and exchanging affectionate kisses at public functions.

When she died, not many in Malaysia would have believed Abdullah would ever get remarried -- perhaps not even the prime minister himself, who still carries the torch for his late wife.

"My love for Endon remains as strong as ever but I have fallen in love with this one," Abdullah said.

"I believe that God has created in your heart many spaces for many people that you can love as much as you want," he said.

His new wife Jeanne is the former manager of his residential complex -- and his former sister-in-law.

Her previous marriage to Endon's younger brother ended in divorce.

The outpouring of public support Abdullah received when Endon passed away seems to have carried over for his new love and many here are eagerly awaiting their first glimpse of the new couple.

"I was very sad for Abdullah when he lost Endon because theirs was a beautiful marriage but now I can't help feeling so happy for him and Jeanne," said Louisa Ng, a 53-year-old housewife. "He deserves a partner."

Malaysia's Star newspaper yesterday splashed photos of Jeanne as well as her two daughters.

"It will be nice to see him flanked by a first lady instead of being alone all this while," taxi driver Mohamad Shukor said.

Even Abdullah's predecessor, Mahathir Mohamad, has put aside his usual sniping at the prime minister to give his blessing.

"As he has lost his wife, it is harus [allowable in Islam] for him to get married again and I wish to congratulate him and pray for him to have a happy married life," Mahathir was quoted as saying on Friday.

A bashful Abdullah has laughed off suggestions of pre-wedding jitters.

"What is there to be nervous about?" he asked.
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