June 6 (Bloomberg) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will marry Jeanne Abdullah in a private ceremony on June 9, the premier's office said in a statement on its Web site.

Jeanne, 53, has served as manager of the official residences of the deputy prime minister and prime minister, according to the statement. A divorcee with two daughters, Jeanne was born in Kuala Lumpur and has ``extensive experience'' in administration and hotel management, having worked for the Hilton and Pan Pacific hotels in Kuala Lumpur, according to today's statement.

Abdullah's first wife, Endon Mahmood, died of cancer in October 2005. The prime minister in March dismissed talk of marriage as ``rumor,'' declining to say if he planned to remarry.

Abdullah and Jeanne, Endon's former sister-in-law, have known each other for more than 20 years but started courting less than a year ago, he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur today. Jeanne was married to Endon's younger brother but the two had split more than 15 years ago, Abdullah said.

Abdullah, 67, and Jeanne will marry at a ceremony attended by only close family members at the prime minister's official residence, Seri Perdana, his office said. Jeanne took the name Abdullah after converting to Islam.

Abdullah said he has the blessings of his two children, Nori and Kamaluddin Abdullah, and his siblings, for the marriage. He described Jeanne as a ``simple'' and ``friendly'' person.

To contact the reporters on this story: Stephanie Phang in Kuala Lumpur at sphang@bloomberg.net; Jean Chua in Singapore at jchua4@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: June 6, 2007 07:28 EDT