Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

2003 – 2009

Known as Malaysia’s “Father of Human Capital Development”, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the fifth Prime Minister of Malaysia introduced the National Integrity Plan, a master plan to cultivate Malaysians to become an ethical society.

Born on 26 November 1939 in Kampung Perlis, Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang

Became the 5th Prime Minister of Malaysia on 31 October 2003

Known as “Father of Human Capital Development”

Born on 26 November 1939 in Kampung Perlis, Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang, Tun Abdullah received his early education at Sekolah Kebangsaan Pematang Bertam. He later attended Bukit Mertajam High School, Penang Methodist Boys’ School and a religious school started by his family. Tun Abdullah pursued his tertiary education at the University of Malaya where he graduated with B.A.(Hons) in Islamic studies in 1964.

Upon graduating, Tun Abdullah joined the civil service, where he started his career as Assistant Secretary in the Public Services Department in 1964. In 1969, Tun Abdullah moved to the National Operation Council (NOC) or Majlis Gerakan Negara (MAGERAN), a body responsible to exercise the ruling powers for the country after the May 1969 racial riots. Tun Abdullah was later promoted to the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sports as Director General (1971-1973) and Deputy Secretary General in 1974.

Tun Abdullah resigned from Government service in 1978 to pursue a political career. A loyal UMNO member since 1965, he was elected UMNO Supreme Council Member in 1981, and UMNO Vice President in 1984, 1987, 1990 and 1996. Tun Abdullah became UMNO Deputy President in 2000.

Tun Abdullah won his first election for the Parliamentary seat of the Kepala Batas constituency in 1978, (a seat he has retained since). In the same year, Tun Abdullah was appointed to his first post in the administration of the Government of Malaysia, as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Federal Territory Ministry. Tun Abdullah was then promoted to Deputy Minister in the same Ministry in 1980. Tun Abdullah later held the post of Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department from 1981 to 1984; and Minister of Education from 1984 to 1986; Minister of Defence from 1986 to 1987; and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 15 March 1991 to 1999. In January 1999, Tun Abdullah was appointed as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs. Tun Abdullah is also the Minister of Defence.

Tun Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi became the 5th Prime Minister of Malaysia on 31 October 2003 and stepped down as Prime Minister on 2nd April 2009.

Tun Abdullah is unofficially known in Malaysia as Pak Lah. His hobbies include collecting walking sticks, playing golf and deep sea fishing. As a person who defies superstition, it is well-known that Tun Abdullah’s favourite number is 13.

Tun Abdullah married the late Tun Endon Dato’ Mahmood in 1965 and after 40 years of marriage, lost her after a prolonged battle with breast cancer on 20 October 2005. They have 2 children; Kamaluddin Abdullah and Nori Abdullah, and 5 grandchildren.

Tun Abdullah later married Tun Jeanne Abdullah on 9th June 2007. They have no child together but are happily married even until today.

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Known as Malaysia’s “Father of Human Capital Development”, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the fifth Prime Minister of Malaysia, introduced the National Integrity Plan, a master plan to cultivate Malaysians to become an ethical society. To combat graft, Tun Abdullah set up the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), and in a bid to reduce bureaucracy in business-government dealings, he established PEMUDAH (Pasukan Petugas Khas Pemudahcara Perniagaan). In the economic sphere, he focused on modernising the agriculture sector and initiated plans for various economic hubs including the Iskandar Development Region (IDR) in Johor, the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) and the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC). With more than 30 years’ experience in public administration, Tun Abdullah during his term improved public sector services for the convenience of Malaysian citizens and established agencies to improve governance.

Born on 26 November 1939 in Kampung Perlis, Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang, Tun Abdullah received his early education at Sekolah Kebangsaan Pematang Bertam. He later attended Bukit Mertajam High School, Penang Methodist Boys’ School and a religious school started by his family. Tun Abdullah pursued his tertiary education at the University of Malaya where he graduated with B.A.(Hons) in Islamic studies in 1964.

Upon graduation, Tun Abdullah joined the civil service, where he started his career as Assistant Secretary in the Public Services Department in 1964. In 1969, Tun Abdullah moved to the National Operation Council (NOC) or Majlis Gerakan Negara (MAGERAN), a body responsible for exercising the ruling powers for the country after the May 1969 racial riots. Tun Abdullah was later promoted to the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sports as Director General (1971-1973) and Deputy Secretary General (1974).

Tun Abdullah resigned from government service in 1978 to pursue a political career. A loyal UMNO member since 1965, he was elected UMNO Supreme Council Member in 1981, and UMNO Vice President in 1984, 1987, 1990 and 1996. Tun Abdullah became UMNO Deputy President in 2000.

Tun Abdullah won his first election for the Parliamentary seat of Kepala Batas in 1978, a seat he has retained since. In the same year, Tun Abdullah was appointed to his first post in the administration of the Government of Malaysia, as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Federal Territory Ministry. Tun Abdullah was then promoted to Deputy Minister in the same Ministry in 1980. Tun Abdullah later held the post of Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department from 1981 to 1984; and Minister of Education from 1984 to 1986; Minister of Defence from 1986 to 1987; and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1991 to 1999. In January 1999, Tun Abdullah was appointed as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs. Tun Abdullah also held the Defence Portfolio.

Tun Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi became the 5th Prime Minister of Malaysia on 31 October 2003 and stepped down as Prime Minister on 2nd April 2009.

Tun Abdullah is unofficially known in Malaysia as Pak Lah. His hobbies include collecting walking sticks, playing golf and deep sea fishing. As a person who defies superstition, it is well-known that Tun Abdullah’s favourite number is 13.

Tun Abdullah married Tun Endon Dato’ Mahmood Ambak in 1965 and after 40 years of marriage, lost her after a prolonged battle with breast cancer on 20 October 2005. They have 2 children: Kamaluddin Abdullah and Nori Abdullah, and 7 grandchildren.

On 9th June 2007, Tun Abdullah married Tun Jeanne Abdullah who has two daughters: Nadiah Kimie dan Nadene Kimie.

  • 1939: Born in Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang on 26th November.
  • 1964: Graduated with a degree in Islamic Studies from Universiti Malaya. Started his career as Assistant Secretary in the Public Services Department.
  • 1965: Married Endon Mahmood.
  • 1969: Became the Principal Assistant Secretary at the National Operation Council (MAGERAN)
  • 1971: Became the Director General at the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sports
  • 1974: Became Deputy Secretary General of Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sports
  • 1978: Became a Member of the Parliament for Kepala Batas. In the same year, appointed as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Federal Territory Ministry.
  • 1979: Became the UMNO Branch Chief for Bertam, and Division Chief of Kepala Batas.
  • 1980: Promoted to Deputy Minister of the Federal Territory Ministry 1981: Elected as UMNO Supreme Council Member, and appointed as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.
  • 1984: Appointed as Minister of Education, and elected as UMNO Vice President.
  • 1986: Appointed as Minister of Defence.
  • 1987: Stripped of his position as Minister of Defence for supporting Musa Hitam of “Team B”.
  • 1988: UMNO Baru was formed, and Tun Dr Mahathir brought Tun Abdullah in as Vice President.
  • 1991: Appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
  • 1999: Appointed as Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia after Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim was sacked.
  • 2000: Elected as Deputy President of UMNO.
  • 2003: Became the 5th Prime Minister of Malaysia on 31st October 2003.
  • 2004: Tun Abdullah introduces the National Integrity Plan.
  • 2004: Elected as UMNO President, running uncontested.
  • 2004: The National Front won big in the General Elections.
  • 2005: His wife, Tun Endon Mahmood, passed away after she lost her battle with breast cancer.
  • 2006: Tun Abdullah established the 5 Economic Corridors.
  • 2007: Married Tun Jeanne Abdullah on 9th June 2007.
  • 2008: Announced that he won’t be contesting for UMNO Presidency, after the National Front’s worst election performance.
  • 2009: Stepped down as the Prime Minister of Malaysia, and was replaced by his Deputy, Dato’ Seri Najib Razak.

Economic
Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi launched the 5 Economic Corridors of Malaysia; 1) Iskandar Malaysia, 2) Northern Corridor Economic Region, 3) East Coast Economic Region, 4) Sabah Development Corridor, & 5) Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy. The economic corridors were introduced under the 9th Malaysian Plan with the objective to boost the development and economies of the 5 regions.

Combating Corruptions
Founded the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), as well as the Pasukan Petugas Khas Pemudahcara Perniagaan (PEMUDAH) to combat corruptions in both public and private sector.

Human Capital Development
Tun Abdullah launched the National Integrity Plan, and the Integrity Institute of Malaysia (IIM) that aims to promote integrity and cultivates Malaysian to become an ethical society.
Islam Hadhari was a concept conceived by Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. The national policy focused on the improving the society’s development and quality of life as a whole, through the mastery of knowledge in all fields, and human capital development. 10 key strategies were introduced as guideline to achieve Islam Hadhari.

As former Prime Minister, Tun Abdullah remained committed to deepening understanding of Islam, especially by the West. He was appointed as Chairman of the International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS) Malaysia which is dedicated to the rigorous pursuit of objective academic and policy research on Islam and contemporary challenges of concern to Malaysia, the global Ummah and Islam’s engagement with other civilisations. Tun Abdullah is the founder-patron of the World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) which seeks to enhance the economic well-being of Muslim nations through encouraging trade and business opportunities. He is Patron of the NGO, Lanskap Malaysia. At the international level, he is a member of the InterAction Council, and founding member of the Asian Peace and Reconciliation Council (APRC) which seeks to help resolve conflicts through silent diplomacy, lobbying, facilitating and mediating behind the scenes on the Asian continent.
  1. “Sesungguhnya, kemerdekaan ini amat besar nilai dan ertinya. Kemerdekaan adalah lambang kebebasan, kedaulatan, kekuatan dan kejayaan, bukan sahaja bagi negara yang tercinta ini, tetapi juga kepada setiap dari kita, warganegara yang bernaung dibawahnya. Mungkin adakalanya kita rasa terkilan atau kurang gembira dengan sesetengah yang berlaku, namun saya percaya, rasa cinta kita kepada negara ini tidak berbelah bahagi. Sesungguhnya, kita bangga menjadi rakyat Malaysia.” – August, 2004

  2. “Much of the prejudice against Islam in the West stems from a lack of understanding of the true nature of Islam as a religion professed by 1.4 billion people in the world.”

  3. “Saya percaya tidak kurang Melayunya anak Melayu kerana mahirnya mereka dalam Bahasa Inggeris. Malahan saya yakin, anak Melayu akan lebih bermartabat, dihormati, disegani, dan lebih tinggi nilai dirinya kerana melengkapi diri dengan keperluan persaingan dunia hari ini. Ibarat kata pepatah; kalau ia benih yang baik, dicampak ke laut menjadi pulau, dicampak ke langit menjadi bintang.”
    Institut Latihan Keselamatan Sosial KWSP, Bangi. 3 Jun 2003.

  4. “While we cannot deny that the government and its corporate sector are the catalysts for growth, we also have to acknowledge that social groups and volunteer organisations, which help and build up the less privileged in society, are an integral part of total nation-building.”
    Petaling Jaya, 10th March 2001

  5. “The philosophy underlying Malaysia’s development is that growth is not to be pursued as an end in itself. Economic growth alone cannot guarantee national unity and social harmony, which are the most important tenets for a plural society like Malaysia. In our multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural society, it is crucial for national unity to be the overriding objective and the goal of national development.”
    Kuala Lumpur, 28 January 2005
  1. Datuk Abdullah Badawi: PEJUANG KEMANUSIAAN SEJAGAT / Dato’ Mokhtar Petah
  2. Pak Lah A SENSE OF ACCOUNTABILITY: An Insight Into Effective Stewardship / ISMAIL NOOR; edited by ELINA NOOR
  3. THE SURVIVOR MEETS THE CHALLENGE: ABDULLAH AHMAD BADAWI AND MALAYSIANS POLITICS / by Chamil Wariya
  4. ABDULLAH AHMAD BADAWI: Revivalist of an Intellectual Tradition by Syed Ali Tawfik al-Attas, Ng Tieh Chuan