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
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عبد الله احمد بدوي
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Abdullah in 2006
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| 5th Prime Minister of Malaysia | |
| In office 31 October 2003 – 2 April 2009 |
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| Monarch | |
| 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 |
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| 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
26 November 1939 Bayan Lepas, Penang, Straits Settlements, British Malaya (now Malaysia) |
| Died | 14 April 2025 (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 an important Malaysian politician. He served as the fifth Prime Minister of Malaysia from 2003 to 2009. People often called him Pak Lah, which means "Father Abdullah" or "Sir Abdullah". This was a respectful nickname.
He was also the leader of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a major political party. He led the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) group during his time as Prime Minister. Abdullah was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Kepala Batas for many years, from 1978 to 2013.
When he became Prime Minister, many people supported him. He promised to fight corruption and promote a modern view of Islam called Islam Hadhari. This idea showed that Islam could work well with economic and technological progress. Later in his time, people were less happy because of money problems like rising prices. This led to his party losing some elections. Abdullah was also known as the "Father of Human Capital Development." This means he focused on helping people grow their skills and knowledge.
Contents
Early Life and School
Abdullah was born in Bayan Lepas, Penang. He came from a family that was well-known for their religious studies. His grandfather, Syeikh Abdullah Fahim, was a respected religious scholar. He helped start a group that later became the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS). He was also the first Mufti (a religious leader) of Penang after Malaysia became independent.
Abdullah's father, Ahmad Badawi, was a religious teacher. He was also an active member of the UMNO party. Abdullah's mother, Kailan Haji Hassan, passed away in 2004.
Abdullah went to Bukit Mertajam High School for his early education. He also studied at Methodist Boys' School in Penang. In 1964, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Islamic Studies from the University of Malaya.
Starting His Career
After finishing university, Abdullah joined the Malaysian Administrative and Diplomatic Corps. This is like the civil service in Malaysia. He worked as the Director of Youth at the Ministry of Youth and Sport. He was also a member of the National Operations Council.
In 1978, he left his government job. He decided to become a Member of Parliament for his hometown area, Kepala Batas. His father had also represented this area before him.
His Political Journey
Abdullah became a well-known figure in Malaysian politics. He served in many important government roles before becoming Prime Minister.
In 1991, he became the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He held this position for many years. Before 1998, he also served as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department. He was also the Minister of Education and the Minister of Defence.
In January 1999, Mahathir Mohamad, who was the Prime Minister at the time, chose Abdullah as his deputy. Abdullah then took over from Mahathir as Prime Minister in 2003.
Prime Minister (2003–2009)
First Term as Leader
When Abdullah Badawi became Prime Minister, he promised to fight against corruption. He gave more power to groups that work to stop corruption. He also made it easier for people to report dishonest actions.
He promoted a special way of understanding Islam called Islam Hadhari. This idea teaches that Islam can go hand-in-hand with modern progress and technology.
In the 2004 general election, Abdullah and his party won a huge victory. His party, Barisan Nasional, won 198 out of 220 seats in Parliament. They also took back control of the Terengganu state government. This big win showed that people supported his ideas for a modern Islam and his efforts against corruption.
Economic Plans
Under Abdullah's leadership, Malaysia aimed to improve its economy by focusing on agriculture. This was done while still keeping its manufacturing industries strong. However, some people criticized him for raising the prices of petrol and electricity. These price changes were due to changes in government help (subsidies).
Celebrating 50 Years of Nationhood
On August 31, 2007, Abdullah Badawi shouted 'Merdeka!' (which means 'Independence!') at midnight. This was during the celebrations for Malaysia's 50th year of independence. Thousands of people gathered at Merdeka Square in Kuala Lumpur for the event. This act was a special tribute to Malaysia's first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, who declared independence in 1957.
Second Term and Challenges
Abdullah won a second term as Prime Minister in the 2008 general election. However, his party won with fewer seats this time. They lost their two-thirds majority in Parliament. They also lost control of five states to the opposition parties.
Even with these challenges, Abdullah promised to keep his promises to the people. He was sworn in for his second term on March 10, 2008. He then created a smaller government team, reducing the number of ministers. He also kept the important role of Minister of Finance for himself.
Abdullah faced difficulties not only from the opposition but also from within his own party. Some members openly asked him to step down. On May 19, 2008, former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad even left the UMNO party. He said he would only rejoin once Abdullah was no longer the party leader and Prime Minister.
In September 2008, one of Abdullah's cabinet ministers, Zaid Ibrahim, resigned. He did this to protest the government's actions in holding a blogger, an MP, and a reporter under a special security law. Abdullah accepted his resignation.
Stepping Down from Power
Abdullah was under a lot of pressure to resign. Many people in his UMNO party felt he should take responsibility for the party's poor performance in the 2008 election. On July 10, 2008, Abdullah announced he would step down as UMNO president and Prime Minister in mid-2009.
He officially resigned on April 2, 2009. The next day, Najib Razak, who was his deputy, became the new Prime Minister. Abdullah was then given the special title "Tun" by the King, Mizan Zainal Abidin, for his service to the country.
Personal Life
On October 20, 2005, Abdullah Badawi's wife, Endon Mahmood, passed away from breast cancer. She had been getting treatment in the United States. She was buried in a Muslim cemetery in Putrajaya.
On June 6, 2007, the Prime Minister's office announced that Abdullah Badawi would marry Jeanne Abdullah. A small ceremony was held at the Prime Minister's home. Jeanne had been a manager at the Seri Perdana residential complex. She also had two children from a previous marriage.
Abdullah was also known for his love of poetry. He wrote a poem called I Seek Eternal Peace. This poem was translated into more than 80 languages and published as a book.
Later Years and Passing
On September 11, 2022, Abdullah's son-in-law, Khairy Jamaluddin, shared that Abdullah was battling dementia. This meant he was no longer able to recognize family members or talk easily. In the years that followed, his health kept him out of the public eye. He needed a wheelchair to move around. In 2024, he was hospitalized for a lung problem.
Abdullah passed away on April 14, 2025, at the age of 85. He died from complications related to his organs failing. This happened at the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur.
The next day, his body was placed at the National Mosque for people to pay their respects. He was then buried at the Heroes' Mausoleum. Many important people, including royalty and current and former prime ministers, attended the ceremony.
Images for kids
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Abdullah in 2006
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Abdullah with United States President George W. Bush at the White House in 2004
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Abdullah with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2005
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Abdullah with his wife, Jeanne Abdullah
See Also
In Spanish: Abdullah Ahmad Badawi para niños
