Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

2.1. Birth and Family

Abdullah was born on November 26, 1939, in Bayan Lepas, Penang, then part of the Straits Settlements in British Malaya. His family was deeply religious and politically active. His paternal grandfather, Syeikh Abdullah Fahim, was of Hadrami descent and a highly respected religious leader and nationalist. Syeikh Abdullah was a co-founder of Hizbul Muslimin, a political party later known as PAS, and became the first mufti of Penang after Malaysia gained independence. Abdullah's father, Ahmad Badawi, was also a prominent religious figure and one of the founding members of UMNO. His mother, Kailan Haji Hassan, passed away in Kuala Lumpur at the age of 80 on February 2, 2004. Abdullah's maternal grandfather, Ha Su-chiang (also known as Hassan Salleh), was an Utsul Muslim who had migrated from Sanya in Hainan, China.

2.2. Education

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi received his early education at Bukit Mertajam High School. He then pursued his 6th form studies at Penang Methodist Boys' School (MBS Penang). In 1964, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Islamic Studies from the University of Malaya. Although he initially intended to study economics at university, he chose Islamic Studies after failing a statistics paper. Later in his career, he received several honorary academic degrees, including an honorary doctorate from Western Michigan University in the United States in 1987, a Doctor Honoris Causa in Islamic Thought from the Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta on July 24, 2006, and an honorary doctorate from Meiji University in Japan in May 2007.

3.1. Entry into Politics and Early Activities

After graduating from the University of Malaya in 1964, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi began his public service career by joining the Malaysian Administrative and Diplomatic Corps, which is the formal term for the civil service. He initially served as an Assistant Secretary in the Public Services Department until 1969. In 1969, he transferred to the National Operations Council (MAGERAN), an executive body established to administer the country following the May 1969 racial riots, where he served as Chief Assistant Secretary until 1971. He then became the Director General of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport until 1973, and subsequently its Deputy Chief Secretary in 1974.

In 1978, Abdullah resigned from the civil service to enter active politics. He joined the UMNO in 1964 and was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for his home constituency of Kepala Batas in northern Seberang Perai, a seat previously held by his father. His early political roles included serving as Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Federal Territory from 1978 to 1980 and then as Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Federal Territory from 1980 to 1981. He also became the UMNO Branch Chief of Bertam and the UMNO Kepala Batas Division Chief in 1979. In 1981, he became a member of the UMNO Supreme Council.

During the early period of Mahathir Mohamad's premiership, a significant dispute within UMNO led to the party's division into two factions: 'Team A' (Mahathir loyalists) and 'Team B' (supporters of former Finance Minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and former Deputy Prime Minister Musa Hitam). Abdullah was a close supporter of his political mentor, Musa Hitam, in 'Team B'. As a result of Mahathir's victory in this internal struggle, Abdullah was removed from his post as Minister of Defence in the Cabinet in 1987. He did not join the Semangat 46 party, which was formed by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. However, when the new UMNO (UMNO (Baru)) was established in February 1988, Mahathir brought Abdullah back into the party's pro tem committee as Vice-President. Abdullah successfully retained his Vice-Presidential seat in 1990.

3.2. Ministerial and Deputy Prime Minister Tenure

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi held several key ministerial portfolios throughout his political career before becoming Prime Minister. After his return to the Cabinet in 1991, he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, a position he held until November 1999, when Syed Hamid Albar succeeded him. Prior to 1998, he had also served as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department from 1981 to 1984, Minister of Education from 1984 to 1986, and Minister of Defence from 1986 to 1987.

His career reached a new peak on January 7, 1999, when Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad appointed him as Deputy Prime Minister, following the dismissal of Anwar Ibrahim. In this capacity, he also served as Minister of Home Affairs from 1999 to 2004. Notably, as Minister of Home Affairs, he reversed the ban on the Iban Bible. Following his appointment as Prime Minister, he also took on the crucial roles of Minister of Finance from 2003 to 2008 and Minister of Internal Security from 2004 to 2008. From 2008 to 2009, he briefly served again as Minister of Defence.

4.1. First Term (2003-2008)

Upon assuming the premiership on October 31, 2003, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi immediately pledged to intensify the fight against corruption. He empowered anti-corruption agencies and sought to create more avenues for public reporting of corrupt practices. A cornerstone of his administration was the promotion of Islam Hadhari (Civilisational Islam), an interpretation of Islam that emphasizes its compatibility with modern economic and technological development.

4.2. Second Term (2008-2009)

Abdullah's second term as Prime Minister, which began after the March 2008 general election, was characterized by significant political challenges and mounting pressure for his resignation.

4.3. Election Results

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi consistently contested and won the Kepala Batas federal constituency in general elections. The following table details his electoral performance:

4.4. Party Leadership

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi played a significant role within the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), holding various leadership positions that shaped party dynamics and succession. He became a member of the UMNO Supreme Council in 1981. He was elected as UMNO Vice-President in 1984, 1987, and 1990, and was re-elected to the position in 1996. In May 2000, he was appointed UMNO Deputy President for the 2000-2003 term.

Following Mahathir Mohamad's retirement from politics, Abdullah succeeded him as the party leader, becoming the sixth President of UMNO in September 2004, a position he held until 2009. He also served as the Chairman of the Barisan Nasional coalition. From 1998, he was the Chairman of the UMNO Penang State Liaison Body. In 1990, he was appointed Chairman of the National Economic Consultative Committee and Chairman of the Community Restructuring Committee.

6.1. Marriage and Family

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi married Endon Mahmood on September 4, 1965. They had two children, Kamaluddin Abdullah and Nori Abdullah, and four grandchildren. Endon Mahmood was of Malaysian-Japanese descent; her mother was a Malaysian-born Japanese. On October 20, 2005, Endon Mahmood passed away from breast cancer, a disease she had been battling since 2003. Her twin sister, Noraini, had also died from the same illness in January 2003. Endon received treatment in the United States before returning to Malaysia 18 days prior to her death. She is buried at a Muslim cemetery in Taman Selatan, Precinct 20, Putrajaya.

Less than two years after Endon's passing, Abdullah remarried Jeanne Abdullah (née Danker) on June 9, 2007, in a private ceremony at the Prime Minister's residence, Seri Perdana. Jeanne was formerly married to the younger brother of Abdullah's late wife, Endon. She had also served as a manager at the Seri Perdana residential complex and has two children from her previous marriage. Abdullah has faced criticism for allowing his son-in-law, Khairy Jamaluddin, to become perceived as unduly influential in UMNO politics. He was also criticized for allowing his brother, Fahim Ibrahim Badawi, to acquire 51 percent of the government-controlled MAS Catering Sdn Bhd, which Fahim later sold to Lufthansa's LSG Skychef for a substantial profit.

6.2. Other Personal Aspects

Informally known as 'Pak Lah' (Pak^Malay meaning 'Uncle' or 'Sir', and Lah^Malay being a diminutive of 'Abdullah'), Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is known for his warm and approachable demeanor. He is also recognized as a poet; his poem "I Seek Eternal Peace" (Ku Cari Damai Abadi^Malay) was translated into more than 80 languages and published as a book. He values family dinners and enjoys Japanese cuisine. Having grown up in Penang, he has a fondness for trying various types of food.

Every day, after the Maghrib prayer, he reads the Quran. He is accustomed to writing notes in Jawi. His favorite Shakespeare play is Julius Caesar. Beyond his own family, he considers Tun Abdul Razak as a significant mentor and influence. The September 11 attacks in 2001 left a profound impact on him, motivating his efforts to promote a moderate understanding of Islam and leading to the development of his Islam Hadhari concept.

For leisure, he enjoys playing golf, exercising, and spending time with his grandchildren. He also appreciates musical performances, with My Fair Lady being among his favorites, and enjoys classical artists such as Nat King Cole. He owns an iPod Nano. Abdullah also has an appreciation for Malaysian art, collecting wood carvings and rattan weavings. In September 2022, his son-in-law, Khairy Jamaluddin, publicly disclosed that Abdullah was suffering from dementia, affecting his ability to recognize or remember family members, and requiring the use of a wheelchair.

7.1. Anti-Corruption Efforts and Criticisms

Upon taking office, Abdullah Badawi promised to intensify efforts against corruption, empowering anti-corruption agencies and creating avenues for public reporting. However, his administration was later criticized for a perceived lack of transparency and a slowdown in its anti-corruption drive, particularly after initial high-profile cases involving figures like Eric Chia and then-Land and Co-operative Development Minister Kasitah Gaddam. Some observers, including *The Economist*, noted that little progress had been made in curbing corruption. There was public debate on whether Abdullah continued to fight corruption discreetly or if efforts had been intentionally slowed.

7.2. Disputes with Mahathir Mohamad

A significant source of controversy during Abdullah's premiership was his public disagreement with his predecessor, Mahathir Mohamad. In 2005, Mahathir alleged a significant increase in cronyism under Abdullah's administration concerning the distribution of import permits for foreign-manufactured vehicles and called for an investigation. Mahathir also criticized Abdullah for canceling several development projects initiated during his own tenure, such as the proposed bridge to replace the causeway linking Malaysia and Singapore. Mahathir accused Abdullah of "selling" Malaysia's sovereignty by allegedly allowing the Republic of Singapore Air Force to fly into Malaysian airspace and permitting the sale of sand to Singapore in exchange for an agreement on the bridge project.

The criticisms intensified in 2006, with Mahathir accusing Abdullah's administration of reducing media freedom and claiming that the media refused to publish his comments. Mahathir further stated that Abdullah had broken promises regarding government policies and, in his strongest criticism, accused Abdullah of betraying his trust, expressing regret over choosing him as his successor and stating he had originally preferred Najib Razak for the role. Mahathir also accused Abdullah of a "deceitful habit," particularly in making controversial decisions while claiming universal public support, such as the cancellation of the Singapore-Johor causeway bridge. Critics also compared Abdullah's administration unfavorably to Mahathir's regarding the maintenance of ethnic harmony in Malaysia.

7.3. Media Freedom and Protests

Abdullah's administration faced criticism from Malaysian bloggers and international media for its perceived silence on criticisms. He vowed to take strong action against pro-democracy protesters and supported police efforts to suppress demonstrations and arrest participants. This stance was followed by a series of media restrictions concerning peaceful pro-democracy gatherings, such as the Bersih 2007 rally on November 10, 2007. While foreign media outlets like Al-Jazeera, Reuters, BBC, and CNN extensively covered these events, local government-controlled media did not provide full coverage. Abdullah publicly stated that he would not be challenged.

7.4. Other Controversies

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's tenure was marked by a range of other issues and criticisms:

• Traffic offenses:** In 2006, Abdullah was reported to have been issued 11 traffic summonses, including five for speeding, four for traffic obstruction, and two for parking on the wrong side of the road. He stated he was unaware of these unpaid summonses.
• Malaysia as an Islamic State:** In 2007, Abdullah first publicly referred to Malaysia as an Islamic state, later reiterating in March 2009 that Malaysia was a "negara Islam^Malay". This declaration drew reservations from the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), which maintained that Malaysia is a fully secular state where the law transcends religion.
• Iraq Oil-for-Food scandal:** Abdullah was criticized for allegedly endorsing relatives who were involved in abuses related to the Iraqi Oil-for-Food Programme.
• Nuclear proliferation:** One of his son's companies, Scomi Precision Engineering, faced criticism after it was found to be producing components for centrifuges purportedly intended for Libya's secret uranium enrichment program.
• Cronyism allegations:** Beyond the import permit issue, Abdullah was criticized for allowing his brother, Fahim Ibrahim Badawi, to purchase 51 percent of the government-controlled MAS Catering Sdn Bhd. Fahim later sold this stake to Lufthansa's LSG Skychef for a significant profit.
• Parliamentary no-confidence motions:** On June 18, 2008, the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), then a member of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, announced that its two federal legislators would move or support a motion of no-confidence against Abdullah. This was unprecedented in Malaysia. The motion was subsequently rejected by the Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, who stated there were no grounds for it to be brought forward. Later, on July 14, 2008, opposition leader Wan Azizah Wan Ismail led 14 opposition MPs in tabling another no-confidence motion, which was also rejected by Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia. SAPP eventually left Barisan Nasional due to its loss of confidence in Abdullah's leadership.
• Perth restaurant opening:** In December 2006, Abdullah faced criticism for traveling to Australia to open a restaurant while parts of Malaysia were experiencing severe floods.
• Dissolution of Parliament:** Abdullah was criticized by opposition politicians for a perceived "deceitful habit" after he announced the dissolution of the Malaysian Parliament on February 13, 2008, having denied such an action just the day before. He later explained that he could not have given any prior indication of the dissolution.
• Conflicting facts on Malaysia's competitiveness:** On January 28, 2008, Abdullah claimed Malaysia ranked eighth globally in national competitiveness based on the World Competitiveness Yearbook 2007. However, this ranking only applied to countries with populations of 20 million or more; overall, Malaysia was ranked 23rd. Anwar Ibrahim criticized this as a weak attempt to conceal that Malaysia's economic fundamentals had failed to progress under Abdullah's governance, noting that Malaysia's competitiveness had declined compared to its peers like Singapore and Hong Kong.
• Oil block transfer to Brunei:** In April 2010, former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad alleged that Abdullah Badawi had transferred two rich offshore oil production blocks, Blocks L and M, in the South China Sea to Brunei before his early retirement in 2008, supposedly in exchange for the Limbang district in Sarawak. Abdullah denied these claims, providing clarification on the status of the blocks.