Najib Razak facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yang Berbahagia Dato' Sri Najib Razak DK II (Pahang) DK I (Brunei) SPMK DMK SSSJ SPSA SSAP SIMP SPDK DUNM DP DSAP PNBS
نجيب رزاق
Official portrait, 2008
6th Prime Minister of Malaysia
In office 3 April 2009 – 9 May 2018
Monarch	Mizan Zainal Abidin Abdul Halim Muhammad V
Deputy	Muhyiddin Yassin Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
Preceded by	Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Succeeded by	Mahathir Mohamad
7th President of the United Malays National Organisation (ex officio: Chairman of Barisan Nasional)
In office 26 March 2009 – 12 May 2018
Deputy	Muhyiddin Yassin Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
Preceded by	Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Succeeded by	Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
9th Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia
In office 7 January 2004 – 3 April 2009
Prime Minister	Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Preceded by	Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Succeeded by	Muhyiddin Yassin
12th Menteri Besar of Pahang
In office 4 May 1982 – 14 August 1986
Monarch	Ahmad Shah
Deputy	Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman
Preceded by	Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman
Succeeded by	Mohd Khalil Yaakob
Ministerial portfolios 1978–1979 Deputy Minister of Energy, Telecommunications and Posts 1979–1981 Deputy Minister of Education 1981–1982 Deputy Minister of Finance 1986–1987 Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports 1987–1990 Minister of Youth and Sports 1990–1995 Minister of Defence 1995–1999 Minister of Education 1999–2008 Minister of Defence 2008–2018 Minister of Finance 2012–2013 Acting Minister of Women, Family and Community Development
Parliamentary offices Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Pekan In office 6 October 1986 – 6 September 2022 Preceded by Mohamed Amin Daud Succeeded by Sh Mohmed Puzi Sh Ali In office 21 February 1976 – 14 June 1982 Preceded by Abdul Razak Hussein Succeeded by Mohamed Amin Daud Member of the Pahang State Legislative Assembly for Bandar Pekan In office 1982–1986 Preceded by Shamsiah Abdul Hamid Succeeded by Constituency abolished
Personal details
Born	Mohammad Najib bin Abdul Razak (1953-07-23) 23 July 1953 (age 72) Kuala Lipis, Pahang, Federation of Malaya
Political party	United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) (1976–present)
Other political affiliations	Barisan Nasional (BN) (1976–present)
Spouses	Tengku Puteri Zainah Eskandar ​ ​ (m. 1976; div. 1987)​ Rosmah Mansor ​ (m. 1987)​
Children	5 (including Nazifuddin and Nizar)
Parents	Abdul Razak Hussein (father) Rahah Noah (mother)
Relatives	Hishammuddin Hussein (cousin) Riza Aziz (stepson) Hussein bin Mohd Taib (grandfather) Mohamed Noah Omar (grandfather) Suhailah Noah (aunt) Onn Hafiz Ghazi (first cousin once removed)
Education	St. John's Institution Malvern College
Alma mater	University of Nottingham (BSc)
Signature

Mohammad Najib bin Abdul Razak (Jawi: محمد نجيب بن عبد الرزاق born 23 July 1953) is a Malaysian politician who served as the sixth prime minister of Malaysia from 2009 to 2018. He is the son of former prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein.

During his time as Prime Minister, Mr. Najib led the Barisan Nasional (BN) political group. However, this group faced a big defeat in the 2018 general election. This loss happened because of public concerns about how money was managed, especially regarding a special fund, and also because of a new tax called the Goods and Services Tax, which many people did not like.

Mr. Najib was first elected to the Parliament of Malaysia in 1976 when he was just 23 years old. He took over the seat of Pekan in Pahang after his father passed away. In his early political career, he became a deputy minister in 1976. From 1982 to 1986, he served as the Menteri Besar of Pahang, which is like a Chief Minister for the state. After that, he held many different jobs in the Malaysian government until 2009, including Minister of Defence, Education, Culture, Youth and Sports, and Finance.

His time as prime minister, from 2009 to 2018, included efforts to make the economy more open, like reducing some government help for certain goods. After the 2013 election, his government introduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

In 2015, Mr. Najib became involved in serious questions about a state investment firm called 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). There were many reports and investigations about large amounts of money from this fund that were said to have gone missing or been used improperly. Mr. Najib always said he was innocent and that the money was a donation. However, these concerns led to a lot of public debate and protests, and they played a big part in his party losing the election in 2018.

Mr. Najib responded to these concerns by making changes in his government. He replaced his deputy prime minister and introduced a new law called the National Security Council Bill. This bill gave the prime minister more power in certain situations. Changes to government subsidies also led to higher living costs for some people. These events, along with the 1MDB issues, contributed to his party's loss in the 2018 general elections. After the election, Mr. Najib accepted the results and promised to help with a smooth change of power.

On 3 July 2018, Mr. Najib was arrested as part of investigations into how money from a company related to 1MDB ended up in his bank account. During searches of his properties, police found many valuable items. Following legal processes, Mr. Najib was found responsible for certain actions related to the 1MDB fund and is currently serving time in prison.

Early Life and Education

Najib was born on 23 July 1953 in Kuala Lipis, Pahang. He is the eldest of six sons of Abdul Razak Hussein, who was Malaysia's second Prime Minister. His younger brother, Dato' Seri Mohd Nazir Abdul Razak, became a leader in the banking world. Najib also holds a special inherited title as one of the Four Noblemen of the Pahang Royal Court.

He attended St. John's Institution, Kuala Lumpur for his primary and secondary education. Later, he studied at Malvern College in England. He then went to the University of Nottingham, where he earned a degree in industrial economics in 1974. After returning to Malaysia, Najib worked briefly at the country's central bank, Bank Negara Malaysia, and then at Petronas, Malaysia's national oil company.

Early Political Career

Najib's political journey began early. In 1976, he was elected to the Parliament of Malaysia, taking over the Pekan seat in Pahang after his father's passing. He was only 23 years old at the time.

From 1982 to 1986, he served as the Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) of Pahang. He was the youngest person to hold this position in the state, starting when he was 29. After this, he held various important roles in the government throughout the 1980s and 1990s, including Minister of Defence and Education. In 2004, he became Deputy Prime Minister under Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and later took over as Prime Minister in 2009.

Najib first joined the Malaysian government as a Deputy Minister of Energy, Telecommunications and Post in 1978, becoming the youngest deputy minister in the country at 25. In 1986, he became the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports. He worked to improve Malaysian sports and introduced the National Sports Policy in 1988.

Senior Ministerial Career

Minister for Defence (1991–1995)

In 1991, Najib was appointed Minister of Defence. During this time, Malaysian soldiers helped UN peacekeeping forces in places like Bosnia in 1993 and Somalia in 1993. After four years, Najib moved to lead the Education Ministry in 1995. He returned to the Ministry of Defence in 2000.

Minister for Education (1995–2000)

As Minister of Education, Najib worked to help Malaysia achieve its goal of becoming a developed nation. A new law in 1996 allowed foreign universities to open schools in Malaysia, giving more chances for Malaysians to get a good education and making Malaysia a hub for learning in the region.

Return as Minister for Defence (2000–2008)

Najib at The Pentagon in 2002

During his second time as Minister of Defence, Najib helped coordinate Malaysia's aid efforts after the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004. He also oversaw the sending of Malaysian troops to help keep peace in Lebanon in 2006.

In December 2003, Najib started a compulsory military service program for young Malaysians. He hoped it would help young people from different backgrounds interact and build friendships. The program aimed to teach tolerance, teamwork, and community involvement.

Deputy Prime Minister (2004–2009)

In 2004, Najib became Deputy Prime Minister. He had many responsibilities, including overseeing important government bodies like the Human Rights Commission. He also continued as Minister for Defence.

In September 2008, he became the Minister for Finance. During the 2008 financial crisis, Malaysia faced economic challenges. Najib announced plans to help the economy recover and encouraged the country to focus on education and new industries.

Becoming Prime Minister

After the elections in March 2008, the ruling party faced a difficult time. Prime Minister Badawi announced he would step down in March 2009, and Najib was chosen to succeed him. Najib became the leader of his party, UMNO, without opposition in November 2008.

On 26 March 2009, Najib won the UMNO presidency. He was then sworn in as Prime Minister of Malaysia on 3 April 2009.

Prime Minister (2009–2018)

Najib in New Delhi in 2018

As Prime Minister, Najib introduced many programs to develop Malaysia's economy and infrastructure. However, his leadership was also marked by serious questions about a state investment fund called 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). There were many reports and investigations about large amounts of money from this fund that were said to have gone missing or been used improperly. These concerns eventually played a big role in his political career.

Domestic Policy

1Malaysia

1Malaysia was a campaign started by Najib in 2008. It encouraged everyone in the government and the country to focus on ethnic harmony, national unity, and good governance. The campaign promoted values like perseverance, excellence, acceptance, loyalty, education, humility, integrity, and meritocracy.

Najib used websites and social media like Facebook and Twitter to share his ideas and connect with Malaysians. While the idea was to bring people together, some critics felt that relations between different ethnic groups in Malaysia became more difficult during his time as Prime Minister.

BR1M Project

The BR1M Project was a program designed by Najib Razak to help Malaysians with lower incomes. The first project gave money to households earning less than RM 3,000 a month.

Later versions of BR1M, like BR1M 2.0 and BR1M 4.0, expanded the help. More money was given to households and also to single individuals. This program aimed to provide financial support to many families across the country.

Housing Programme

The 1Malaysia People's Housing Programme (PR1MA) was created to build affordable homes for middle-income families in cities. These homes were priced between RM 100,000 and RM 400,000, making it easier for many families to own a house.

National Security Council Bill 2015

In December 2015, a new law called the National Security Council Bill was passed. This law gave the Prime Minister special powers, such as deciding what counts as a security issue and declaring certain areas as security zones. In these zones, authorities could make arrests or search properties without a warrant. Some groups were concerned that this law could lead to the government having too much power.

Economic Policy

New Economic Model

In 2009, Najib announced the government's plan for a New Economic Model. This plan aimed to help Malaysia become a high-income country by encouraging knowledge-based industries and attracting more investments from other countries.

Reform of Government Subsidies

Najib began to change how the government provided subsidies for certain goods. In 2010, subsidies for petrol, diesel, and sugar were reduced. The government believed this would save money and encourage healthier lifestyles. They also said that education and healthcare would continue to receive strong government support.

Economic Liberalisation

Malaysia also made changes to attract more foreign businesses. These changes included allowing foreign investors to own more of most companies and making it easier for international banks to operate in Malaysia. These reforms helped Malaysia's economy become more competitive globally.

Stimulus Packages

The Malaysian government introduced two special plans, called stimulus packages, to help the economy during a global economic slowdown. These packages aimed to boost economic activity, especially in construction. Malaysia's economy showed good growth during this period, and the government focused on strengthening the country's economic foundations.

Foreign Policy

Palestine

Najib with then Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2010

Malaysia has always supported the Palestinian people. Najib visited the West Bank, becoming the first Muslim leader from Southeast Asia to do so. He emphasized that Palestinians could count on Malaysia's support and encouraged unity among Palestinian groups for lasting peace.

United States

Najib had a good relationship with then US President Barack Obama. Their meetings helped strengthen the partnership between Malaysia and the United States. Najib also visited the United States in 2017 at the invitation of President Donald Trump, further improving ties between the two countries.

India

In January 2010, Najib visited India with a large group of government officials and business leaders. They worked on agreements for free trade and cooperation in areas like education and finance. These efforts led to plans for significant investments in Malaysia.

New Zealand

Under Najib's government, Malaysia signed a free-trade agreement with New Zealand in 2009. This agreement aimed to reduce taxes on many products and encourage cooperation in various services.

Myanmar

In December 2016, Najib spoke out against the treatment of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, describing the situation as very serious.

14th Malaysian General Election

In May 2018, Malaysia held its 14th general election. Najib's party, Barisan Nasional, faced a historic defeat, losing its majority for the first time. Many observers believed this was due to the unpopular Goods and Services Tax and the concerns about the 1MDB fund.

After the results were clear, Najib stated that he accepted the will of the people. On 12 May 2018, he resigned as the leader of UMNO and Barisan Nasional.

Post-Premiership (2018–present)

After losing the election, Najib accepted the defeat and helped ensure a smooth transfer of power. On 12 May 2018, as he and his wife were planning to travel, the Immigration Department, under orders from the new Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, placed a travel ban on them.

The new government quickly reopened investigations into the 1MDB fund. Starting 16 May 2018, the Malaysian police searched several properties linked to Najib and his wife. They found and seized many valuable items, including designer handbags and cash. These investigations were a big part of the public discussion about how government funds were managed.

In January 2019, a short video clip of Najib saying "Malu Apa Bossku" ("What's there to be ashamed of my boss") became very popular online. This phrase and pictures of him with a special motorcycle went viral, especially among young Malaysians. This phenomenon helped increase Najib's popularity.

In December 2023, his lawyer shared that Najib had asked to study for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree while he is in prison.

COVID-19 Measure Violations

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia, Najib received fines in May 2021 for not following health rules at a restaurant. In January and February 2022, police and the Health Minister investigated other events he attended where there were claims of not following COVID-19 safety rules during election campaigns.

Personal Life

Najib with his wife Rosmah Mansor in 2009

In 1976, Najib married Tengku Puteri Zainah Tengku Eskandar, and they had three children. In 1987, they divorced, and he married Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor. They have two children together. His daughter Nooryana is married to the nephew of a former President of Kazakhstan.

During his time in power, there was public concern about the spending habits of Najib and his wife. His wife, Rosmah, faced scrutiny for her purchases of luxury items. Many valuable items, including a large collection of designer handbags, were found and taken for investigation from their properties during inquiries related to the 1MDB fund. These concerns about spending became a key part of the discussions around the 1MDB issues.

Najib Razak enjoys golf and has played with two US Presidents, Barack Obama and Donald Trump. Trump even called Najib his "favourite prime minister."

Najib Razak also has four long-haired cats named Kiki, Leo, Tiger, and Simba.

Election Results

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

•  Kedah
  • Member of the Supreme Order of Sri Mahawangsa (DMK) – Dato' Seri Utama (2008)
•  Kelantan
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Kelantan (SPMK) – Dato' (2004)
•  Malacca
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Premier and Exalted Order of Malacca (DUNM) – Datuk Seri Utama (2007)
•  Negeri Sembilan
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of Loyalty to Negeri Sembilan (SPNS) – Dato' Seri Utama (2005, revoked 26 October 2018)
•  Pahang
  • Member 2nd class of the Family Order of the Crown of Indra of Pahang (DK II) (2010)
  • Knight Grand Companion of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP) – Dato' Sri (1985)
  • Knight Grand Companion of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (SIMP) – formerly Dato', now Dato' Indera
  • Knight Companion of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (DSAP) – Dato'
•  Penang
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of State (DUPN) – Dato' Seri Utama (2009, revoked 15 September 2022)
•  Perak
  • Ordinary Class of the Perak Family Order of Sultan Azlan Shah (SPSA) – Dato' Seri Diraja (2004)
•  Perlis
  • Knight Grand Companion of the Order of the Gallant Prince Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail (SSSJ) – Dato' Seri Diraja (2007)
•  Sabah
  • Grand Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (SPDK) – Datuk Seri Panglima (2002)
•  Sarawak
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak (DP) – Datuk Patinggi (2008)
  • Knight Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of Sarawak (PNBS) – Dato Sri (1990)
•  Selangor
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Selangor (SPMS) – Dato' Seri (2004, suspended 6 May 2019, revoked 12 September 2022)
  • Knight Commander of the Order of the Crown of Selangor (DPMS) – Dato' (1992, suspended 6 May 2019, revoked 12 September 2022)

Foreign Honours

•  Bahrain
  • King Hamad Order for Development – (2017)
  • King Hamad (Al Nahda) First Medal – (2017)
•  Brunei
  • 1st Class of the Family Order of Brunei (DK) – Dato Laila Utama (2010)
•  Saudi Arabia
  • Member 1st Class of the Order of Abdulaziz al Saud – (2010)
•  Singapore
  • Recipient of the Distinguished Service Order (Military) (DUBC) (1995)
•  Thailand
  • Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the White Elephant – (1991)
•  United Arab Emirates
  • Order of the Union Medal – (2014)

Honorary Degrees

•  Malaysia
  • Honorary Ph.D. degree in Social Transformation from Limkokwing University (2008)
  • Honorary Ph.D. degree from Monash University (2011)
•  Japan
  • Honorary Ph.D. degree from Meiji University (2010)
•  Palestine
  • Honorary Ph.D. degree from al-Aqsa University (2013)

Other Recognitions

In February 2016, FinanceAsia magazine named Najib as the worst finance minister for that year. The magazine noted that 2015 was a difficult year for Malaysia's economy, partly due to the 1MDB fund issues and falling oil prices.

See also

In Spanish: Najib Razak para niños

• Najib Razak controversies
• 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal
• Corruption in Malaysia