Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

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 also arrested several public figures from the Mahathir era for corruption, a move which was widely applauded by the public. He advocated an interpretation of Islam known as Islam Hadhari, which advocates the intercompatibility between Islam and economic and technological development. His administration emphasised a revival of the Malaysian agricultural sector.

In the 2004 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.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, upon his release from prison in September 2004, publicly credited Abdullah Badawi for not interfering with the court's overturning of his sodomy conviction.

On 10 September 2004, Abdullah Badawi became as Finance Minister, presented his maiden budget, which was seen by many as maintenance-oriented as opposed to the growth policies emphasised by Dr. Mahathir. He also focused on Malaysia's internal security after the increase in corrupt practices, such as bribery, in the Law enforcement in Malaysia.

Abdullah Badawi is unofficially known as Pak Lah (Malay diminutive for 'Uncle Abdullah'). The Malaysian government issued a statement that the prime minister should not be referred to by this nickname in official articles and in newsprint; however, the nickname was still used informally. In fact, he often used that nickname to refer to himself during public gatherings.

Abdullah Badawi was heavily involved in foreign policy making. He was the chairman of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference since the start of his premiership in 2003.

As of 2005, Abdullah Badawi was the chairman of the ASEAN, and he also served as chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement from October 2003 until September 2006.

Abdullah Badawi declared an end to the economic legacy and grandiose projects of his predecessor, Mahathir Mohamad, during the 57th UMNO General Assembly. He told delegates that he would not pursue the economic strategies adopted two decades ago by Dr. Mahathir.

He said that in the past, wealth was generated not by innovation and creativity, but by foreign investment, government contracts, and privatisation.

Agriculture and biotechnology are some of the highlighted issues in 9MP that the government believes such sectors are still able to generate wealth for many Malaysians, especially those in rural areas.

In late 2005, Badawi successfully led Malaysia into a historic free trade agreement with Japan enabling the two countries to scrap tariffs on essentially all industrial goods and most agricultural, forestry and fishery products within a decade.[12]

Under the Abdullah Badawi administration, the country is moving down to a value chain economy by developing its inherent strengths in agriculture without losing its existing manufacturing base.[13] However, Abdullah has been criticised as to his handling of the sudden hikes in the price of petrol and electricity through the restructuring of government subsidies, especially as it is detrimental to Malaysia's position as a traditional exporter.

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.[14]

Abdullah Badawi won a second term as prime minister by winning the 12th General Election, held in March 2008, with a reduced majority. He also lost four additional states to the opposition (Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor). Although his party, Barisan Nasional, suffered a major setback, Abdullah Badawi vowed to fulfill 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.[15] It took a while before open dissent started brewing at grassroots levels, with petition and campaigns being launched to ask for his resignation.[16]

He was sworn in for a second term as prime minister on 10 March 2008.[17] Badawi 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.[18]

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 premier, openly called for him to step down. The UMNO Youth chief, Hishammuddin, did not take any action against Mukhriz and dismissed it as a personal opinion.

Abdullah was under heavy pressure to step down after many within his UMNO party including former Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohammad openly asked him to take full responsibility on the dismal performance during the 12th General Election in March 2008.

He initiated two significant changes in the system after the general election by declaring the Anti Corruption Agency (ACA) to be fully independent and initiated judicial reform proceedings in the aftermath of the V.K. Lingam Royal Commission of Inquiry.

Regarding the live telecast in Dewan Rakyat (the first time since after the 12th General Election),[19] Abdullah said he was ashamed at what had transpired in the Dewan Rakyat on 30 April 2008 (Wednesday) and agreed that live telecast of the proceedings should be scrapped. He said what happened was just "too much."

"I felt ashamed if people watched television and saw what was happening in our Dewan. In my heart, I also felt that all this happened because there was a live broadcast at that time," said the Prime Minister.

There were many ideas from the government MPs and opposition MPs. Some MPs suggested that the live telecast should not be scrapped to let the people know what was really happening in the Dewan Rakyat and judge the MPs in conducting the people's voice in the parliament. The live telecast of the proceedings is to be continued to show that there is transparency and to let the people know how the MPs are behaving and debating.

On 19 May 2008, the dispute between Mahathir and Abdullah reached a "shocking" stage when Dr 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.[20]

On 15 September 2008, Abdullah's cabinet Minister in Prime Minister Department Senator Datuk 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.[21]

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has been 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.Home

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has been criticised for allowing his son-in-law, Khairy Jamaluddin, to become unduly influential in UMNO politics.[26]

In 2007 Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi first called Malaysia an Islamic state. Earlier that month he had made another statement, saying Malaysia was neither a theocratic or secular state.[27] A similar statement was made by Prime Minister on 12 March 2009, where he stated Malaysia was a "negara Islam".[28] The Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), a political group representing Malaysian Chinese, expressed reservations over this announcement. The MCA's position is that Malaysia is a fully secular state, and that the law transcends religion.[29]

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has been criticised for endorsing his relatives who were involved in abuses related to the Iraqi Oil-for-Food Programme.[30]

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has been criticised after one of his son's companies was found to be producing components for centrifuges purported to be intended for use in Libya's secret uranium enrichment program.

In 2005, it was alleged that under Abdullah Badawi's administration, there had been a significant increase in cases of cronyism regarding the distribution of import permits for foreign-manufactured vehicles. Then Prime Minister Mahathir had called for an investigation of the issue. Later, Mahathir Mohamad criticised Abdullah for cancelling a number of development projects that the former had started, such as the construction of a bridge to replace the causeway linking Malaysia and Singapore.[31]

On 18 June 2008, the Sabah Progressive Party, a member of the 14-party ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, said its two legislators in the federal parliament will move or back a motion of no-confidence against Abdullah.[32]

Malaysia has never experienced a serious no-confidence vote before and it is unclear what is the next step if, in the unlikely event, Abdullah loses the vote; whether a snap election is held, or whether the King dissolves parliament, or whether a new leader is given the opportunity to form a new government. No Malaysian Prime Minister has ever faced a vote of no-confidence presented by a member of his own coalition before. The Barisan Nasional has 140 lawmakers in the 222-member Parliament, enough to defeat any vote against Abdullah who is also president of the UMNO.

Nevertheless, the motion was rejected by the Speaker on the basis that there were no grounds for the motion to be put forward.

•  Malaysia :
  • Member of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (AMN) (1971)[35]
  • Officer of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (KMN) (1975)[36]
  • Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (SMN) - Tun (2009)[37]
•  Federal Territory (Malaysia) :
  • Grand Knight of the Order of the Territorial Crown (SUMW) - Datuk Seri Utama (2010)
•  Johor :
  • Grand Commander of the Royal Family Order of Johor (DKI) (2004)
•  Kelantan :
  • Recipient of the Royal Family Order or Star of Yunus (DK) (2006)[38]
•  Kedah :
  • Kedah Supreme Order of Merit (DUK) (2006)
•  Malacca :
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Premier and Exalted Order of Malacca (DUNM) - Datuk Seri Utama (2004)
•  Negeri Sembilan :
  • Principal Grand Knight of the Order of Loyalty to Negeri Sembilan (SPNS) - Dato' Seri Utama (2000)
•  Pahang :
  • Grand Knight of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP) - Dato' Sri (1999)
  • Member 2nd class of the Family Order of the Crown of Indra of Pahang (DK II) (2006)[39]
•  Penang :
  • Member of the Order of Defender of the State (DJN) (1979)
  • Companion of the Order of Defender of the State (DMPN) - Dato' (1981)
  • Commander of the Order of Defender of the State (DGPN) - Dato' Seri (1997)
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of Defender of the State (DUPN) - Dato' Seri Utama (2004)
•  Perak :
  • Ordinary Class of the Perak Family Order of Sultan Azlan Shah (SPSA) - Dato' Seri DiRaja (2003)
•  Perlis :
  • Knight Grand Companion of the Order of the Gallant Prince Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail (SSSJ) - Dato' Seri Diraja (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 Companion of the Order of Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah (DSSA) - Dato' (1992)
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Selangor (SPMS) - Dato' Seri (2000)
•  Terengganu :
  • Supreme Class of the Order of Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu (SUMZ) - Dato' Seri Utama (2005)

•  Brunei :
  • Family Order of Brunei 1st Class (DK) – Dato Laila Utama (2010)[40]
•  Chile :
  • Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (1994)
•  Cuba :
  • Order of José Marti (2004)
•  Indonesia :
  • 2nd Class of the Star of the Republic of Indonesia (2007)
•  Japan :
  • Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure (1991)
•  North Korea :
  • First Class of the Order of Friendship (1997)
•  South Korea :
  • Gwangha Medal of the Order of Diplomatic Service Merit (1983)
•  Thailand :
  • Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the White Elephant (GCE) (1994)

Several places were named after him, including:

• Kolej Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, a residential college at Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Simpang Empat, Perlis