Abdullah Ahmad Badawi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yang Amat Berbahagia Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi DK I (Johor) DK (Kelantan) DK I (Pahang) DK I (Brunei) DUK SMN SPMS SUMZ SSSJ SPSA SSAP SPNS DUPN DGPN SPDK DUNM SUMW DP DSSA DMPN DJN KMN AMN
عبد الله احمد بدوي
Abdullah in 2006
5th Prime Minister of Malaysia
In office 31 October 2003 – 2 April 2009
Monarch	Sirajuddin Mizan Zainal Abidin
Deputy	Najib Razak
Preceded by	Mahathir Mohamad
Succeeded by	Najib Razak
6th President of the United Malays National Organisation
In office 31 October 2003 – 3 April 2009
Deputy	Najib Razak
Preceded by	Mahathir Mohamad
Succeeded by	Najib Razak
Ministerial roles
1978–1980	Parliamentary Secretary of Federal Territories
1980–1981	Deputy Minister of Federal Territories
1981–1984	Minister in the Prime Minister's Department
1984–1986	Minister of Education
1986–1987	Minister of Defence
1991–1999	Minister of Foreign Affairs
1999–2004	Minister of Home Affairs
1999–2003	Deputy Prime Minister
2003–2008	Minister of Finance
2004–2008	Minister of Internal Security
2008–2009	Minister of Defence
Other roles
2003–2006	Secretary General of the Non-Aligned Movement
Faction represented in Dewan Rakyat
1978–2013	Barisan Nasional
Personal details
Born	Abdullah bin Ahmad Badawi (1939-11-26)26 November 1939 Bayan Lepas, Penang, Straits Settlements, British Malaya (now Malaysia)
Died	14 April 2025(2025-04-14) (aged 85) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Resting place	Makam Pahlawan, Masjid Negara, Kuala Lumpur
Political party	United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) (1964–2025)
Other political affiliations	Alliance Party (Perikatan) (1964–1973) Barisan Nasional (BN) (1974–2025)
Height	1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Spouses	Endon Mahmood ​ ​ (m. 1965; died 2005)​ Jeanne Abdullah ​ (m. 2007)​
Relations	Syeikh Abdullah Fahim (grandfather) Khairy Jamaluddin (son-in-law)
Children	4 (2 children and 2 stepchildren)
Residences	Bait Badawi, Tasik Perdana, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Education	Bukit Mertajam High School
Alma mater	University of Malaya (BA)

Abdullah bin Ahmad Badawi (Jawi: عبد الله بن احمد بدوي 26 November 1939 – 14 April 2025) was a Malaysian politician who served as the fifth Prime Minister of Malaysia from 2003 to 2009. He was also the sixth president of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), then the country’s largest political party, and led the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition during his tenure. Affectionately known as Pak Lah—with Pak being a respectful term derived from Bapak (meaning "father" or "sir") and Lah from his given name, Abdullah—he served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kepala Batas for eight consecutive terms from 1978 to 2013.

Abdullah's premiership began with strong public support and was characterised by promises of institutional reform, anti-corruption efforts, and a vision of moderate Islam through his concept of Islam Hadhari. However, his later years in office saw declining approval due to economic concerns, including inflation and rising living costs, ultimately leading to significant electoral setbacks for the ruling coalition. Abdullah was granted the soubriquet "Father of Human Capital Development" ("Bapa Pembangunan Modal Insan ").

Early life and education

Abdullah was born in Bayan Lepas, Penang, into a prominent religious family. His paternal grandfather, Syeikh Abdullah Badawi Fahim, was of Hadrami descent and was a respected religious scholar and nationalist. He was among the founding members of Hizbul Muslimin, which later evolved into the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), and served as the first Mufti of Penang following Malaysia’s independence.

His father, Ahmad Badawi, was a religious teacher and active member of UMNO. His mother, Kailan Haji Hassan, died in Kuala Lumpur on 2 February 2004 at the age of 80. Abdullah's maternal grandfather, Ha Su-chiang (simplified Chinese: 哈苏璋; traditional Chinese: 哈蘇璋; pinyin: Hā Sūzhāng), also known as Hassan Salleh, was an Utsul Muslim from Sanya, Hainan.

Abdullah received his early education at Bukit Mertajam High School and later attended Methodist Boys' School, Penang, for his sixth form. In 1964, he graduated from the University of Malaya with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Islamic Studies.

Early career

After graduating from the University of Malaya, he joined the Malaysian Administrative and Diplomatic Corps (the formal term for civil service). He served as Director of Youth at the Ministry of Youth and Sport as well as member of the National Operations Council (MAGERAN). He resigned in 1978 to become a member of parliament for his constituency of Kepala Batas in northern Seberang Perai (which had also been represented by his father).

Political career

Early during Mahathir's tenure as prime minister, a bitter dispute erupted within the ruling UMNO party and it was divided into two camps, which were colloquially known as 'Team A', comprising Mahathir loyalists, and 'Team B', which supported former Minister of Finance Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and former deputy prime minister Musa Hitam. Mahathir prevailed, leading to the exclusion of Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah from the newly established UMNO (Baru) or New UMNO. Abdullah was a close supporter of his political mentor Musa Hitam in Team B and as a result, he was sacked from his post of Minister of Defence in the Cabinet. He did not join the Semangat 46 (Spirit 46) party which was set up by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. Semangat 46 is now defunct.

When UMNO (Baru) was formed in February 1988, Mahathir, the UMNO president and prime minister, brought Abdullah into the pro tem committee of UMNO (Baru) as the vice-president. In 1990, Abdullah retained his seat as vice president. During the Cabinet reshuffle in 1991, Mahathir brought him back into the Cabinet as foreign minister. He held this post until November 1999, when Syed Hamid Albar succeeded him. Even though he lost his vice presidency in the 1993 UMNO elections, he remained in the Cabinet and was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs. Prior to 1998, he also served as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Minister of Education, Minister of Defence, and Minister of Foreign Affairs. On 7 January 1999, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad appointed him as deputy prime minister replacing Anwar Ibrahim. Abdullah went on to succeed Mahathir as prime minister in 2003.

Prime Minister (2003–2009)

First term

Abdullah with United States President George W. Bush at the White House in 2004

Upon coming into power as prime minister, Abdullah Badawi promised to clamp down on corruption, thus empowering anti-corruption agencies and providing more avenues for the public to expose corrupt practices. He advocated an interpretation of Islam known as Islam Hadhari, which advocates the intercompatibility between Islam and economic and technological development.

In the 2004 general election, Abdullah scored a significant victory. In the 11th General Election, Abdullah Badawi's first as Prime Minister of Malaysia, he delivered a landslide victory for his party's coalition Barisan Nasional (of which UMNO is the dominant party) by winning 198 out of 220 seats in parliament and wresting control of the Terengganu state government from the Islamist opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), as well as coming close to capturing the traditional PAS stronghold of Kelantan. The victory was widely regarded as an approval of his vision of moderate Islam over religious fundamentalism as well as support for his anti-corruption policies.

Economic policies

Abdullah with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2005

Under the Abdullah administration, the country was moving down to a value-chain economy by developing its inherent strengths in agriculture without losing its existing manufacturing base. However, Abdullah was criticized for his handling of the sudden hikes in petrol and electricity prices due to the restructuring of government subsidies, especially as it was detrimental to Malaysia's position as a traditional exporter.

50 years of nationhood

On 31 August 2007, Abdullah Badawi shouted 'Merdeka!' during the midnight celebrations of Malaysia's 50 years of nationhood. The celebrations were held at Merdeka Square, Kuala Lumpur, where thousands of people had congregated. This was a symbolic gesture which emulated the actions of Malaya's first prime minister, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman when the latter declared independence from the British in 1957.

Second term

Abdullah won a second term as prime minister by winning the 2008 general election, held in March 2008, with a reduced majority. In the 12th General Election, Barisan Nasional won a slim majority of seats but lost its two-thirds majority and also lost 5 states to Opposition Pact. He also lost four additional states to the opposition (Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor). Although his party, Barisan Nasional, suffered a major setback, Abdullah vowed to fulfil the promises in his manifesto amid calls from Mahathir, the opposition and even among UMNO members for him to resign. However, his deputy, Najib Razak, and others in his party voiced unreserved support for his leadership. It took a while before open dissent started brewing at grassroots levels, with petitions and campaigns being launched to ask for his resignation.

He was sworn in for a second term as prime minister on 10 March 2008. Abdullah unveiled a streamlined 68-member Cabinet on 18 March 2008, dropping half the ministers in his previous administration and keeping the crucial finance portfolio for himself.

Abdullah faced a political crisis not only from the onslaught of the Opposition which gained much ground by taking the richest and most important states (Selangor and Penang, which incidentally is the hometown of Abdullah Badawi). He also faced growing discontent from within his own ranks in the UMNO party. Mukhriz Mahathir, the son of the former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, openly called for him to step down. The UMNO Youth chief, Hishammuddin Hussein, did not take any action against Mukhriz and dismissed it as a personal opinion.

On 19 May 2008, the dispute between Mahathir and Abdullah reached a critical stage when Mahathir, who had served as UMNO President for 22 years, announced that he was quitting the party after having lost confidence in Abdullah Badawi's leadership, and that he would only rejoin the party after Abdullah had stepped down as UMNO president and prime minister.

On 15 September 2008, Abdullah's cabinet Minister in the Prime Minister Department Senator Zaid Ibrahim submitted his resignation letter to the prime minister. He tendered his resignation as a protest to the government's action in detaining a blogger, a member of parliament and a reporter under the Internal Security Act. Abdullah later accepted his resignation.

Retirement and transfer of power

Abdullah was under heavy pressure to step down after many within his UMNO party including former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad openly asked him to take full responsibility for the dismal performance during the 12th General Election in March 2008. On 10 July 2008, Abdullah announced he would step down as UMNO president and prime minister in mid-2009. He stepped down in favour of his successor, Najib Razak, during the UMNO General Assembly held on 1 April 2009. Nevertheless, shortly before he resigned, Najib gave promises to Abdullah that his constituency in Kepala Batas would continue to receive development funds, where he would continue to serve as its MP.

Abdullah Badawi handed his resignation letter to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on 2 April 2009. On 3 April 2009, he was succeeded by Najib Razak as prime minister. The Deputy Prime Minister, Najib, was sworn in as the new prime minister the following day. Abdullah was then conferred with a "Tun" title by King Mizan Zainal Abidin for his service to the nation.

Personal life

Abdullah with his wife, Jeanne Abdullah

On 20 October 2005, Abdullah Badawi's wife, Endon Mahmood, died of breast cancer. Endon discovered the disease in 2003 while her twin sister Noraini, who had earlier been diagnosed with the same illness, died in January 2003. She received treatment in the United States and returned to Malaysia 18 days before her death. She is buried at a Muslim cemetery, at Taman Selatan, Precinct 20, Putrajaya.

On 6 June 2007, the Prime Minister's office announced Abdullah Badawi's marriage to Jeanne Abdullah. On 9 June, a private ceremony was conducted at the Prime Minister's residence, Seri Perdana, and attended by close relatives. Jeanne was formerly married to Endon Mahmood’s younger brother. She was also a manager at the Seri Perdana residential complex and has two children from her previous marriage.

Abdullah was criticised for allowing his son-in-law, Khairy Jamaluddin, to become unduly influential in UMNO politics.

Abdullah was also criticised for allowing his brother Fahim Ibrahim Badawi to buy 51 percent of the government-controlled MAS Catering Sdn Bhd. Fahim later sold this stake to Lufthansa's LSG Skychef at a huge profit.

He was known also as a poet. His poem I Seek Eternal Peace was translated into more than 80 languages and published as a book.

Illness, death and state funeral

On 11 September 2022, Abdullah's son-in-law and former health minister, Khairy Jamaluddin, publicly revealed that Abdullah had been battling dementia and was no longer able to recognise family members or communicate effectively. In the years that followed, his declining health kept him away from the public eye and he required the assistance of a wheelchair. In 2024, he was admitted to the hospital due to spontaneous pneumothorax.

Abdullah died on 14 April 2025 at the age of 85, following complications from multi-organ failure, at the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur. The next day, his body lay in state at the main prayer hall of the National Mosque from 10 am to 1 pm, before being laid to rest at the Heroes' Mausoleum at around 2:30 pm.

The ceremony was attended by numerous dignitaries and royalty, including the Sultan of Terengganu, Mizan Zainal Abidin, the Tunku Besar of Seri Menanti, Tunku Ali Redhauddin, the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Malacca (Mohd Ali Rustam and Mohd Khalil Yaakob), the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Penang (Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak), the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sabah (Musa Aman), Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, former Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong, Deputy Prime Ministers Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Fadillah Yusof, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat Johari Abdul and Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain. All four living former prime ministers—Mahathir Mohamad, Najib Razak, Muhyiddin Yassin and Ismail Sabri Yaakob—also paid their final respects.

Election results

Honours and awards

Honours of Malaysia

•  Malaysia :
  • Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (SMN) – Tun (2009)
  • Officer of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (KMN) (1975)
  • Member of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (AMN) (1971)
  • Recipient of the 10th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Installation Medal (1994)
  • Recipient of the 11th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Installation Medal (1999)
  • Recipient of the 12th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Installation Medal (2002)
  • Recipient of the 13th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Installation Medal (2007)
  • Recipient of the 14th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Installation Medal (2012)
•  Federal Territory (Malaysia) :
  • Grand Knight of the Order of the Territorial Crown (SUMW) – Datuk Seri Utama (2010)
•  Johor :
  • First Class of the Royal Family Order of Johor (DK I) (2004)
•  Kedah :
  • Recipient of the Kedah Supreme Order of Merit (DUK) (2006)
•  Kelantan :
  • Recipient of the Royal Family Order of Kelantan (DK) (2006)
•  Malacca :
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Premier and Exalted Order of Malacca (DUNM) – Datuk Seri Utama (2004)
•  Negeri Sembilan :
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of Loyalty to Negeri Sembilan (SPNS) – Dato' Seri Utama (2000)
•  Pahang :
  • Member 1st class of the Family Order of the Crown of Indra of Pahang (DK I) (2006)
  • Grand Knight of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP) – Dato' Sri (1999)
•  Penang :
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of Defender of the State (DUPN) – Dato' Seri Utama (2004)
  • Commander of the Order of Defender of the State (DGPN) – Dato' Seri (1997)
  • Companion of the Order of Defender of the State (DMPN) – Dato' (1981)
  • Member of the Order of Defender of the State (DJN) (1979)
•  Perak :
  • Ordinary Class of the Perak Family Order of Sultan Azlan Shah (SPSA) – Dato' Seri DiRaja (2003)
  • Recipient of the Sultan Azlan Shah Silver Jubilee Medal (2009)
•  Perlis :
  • Knight Grand Companion of the Order of the Gallant Prince Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail (SSSJ) – Dato' Seri Diraja (2001)
  • Recipient of the Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail Installation Medal (2001)
•  Sabah :
  • Grand Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (SPDK) – Datuk Seri Panglima (1999)
•  Sarawak :
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak (DP) – Datuk Patinggi (2003)
•  Selangor :
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Selangor (SPMS) – Dato' Seri (2000)
  • Knight Companion of the Order of Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah (DSSA) – Dato' (1992)
  • Recipient of the Sultan Sharafuddin Coronation Medal (2003)
•  Terengganu :
  • Supreme Class of the Order of Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu (SUMZ) – Dato' Seri Utama (2005)

International honours

•  Brunei :
  • Family Order of Brunei 1st Class (DK) – Dato Laila Utama (2010)
•  Indonesia:
  • Star of the Republic of Indonesia (2nd Class) (2007)
  • Badge of Tunas Kencana (Lencana Tunas Kencana) (2007)
•  South Korea :
  • Grand Gwanghwa Medal of the Order of Diplomatic Service Merit

Honorary degrees

•  Australia :
  • Honorary Ph.D. degree in Technology from Curtin University of Technology (2018)
•  Malaysia :
  • Honorary Ph.D. degree in Humanities from University of Malaya (2009)

See also

In Spanish: Abdullah Ahmad Badawi para niños