Najib praises Abdullah for loyalty
FORMER premier ‘is a true friend because he remains loyal and is willing to be with me and the government in good and bad times’.
FORMER Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s loyalty is absolute.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak shared this yesterday in his keynote address at the Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Lecture.
“I appreciate his loyalty all this while where he continues to throw his support behind me, the government, Umno and Barisan Nasional.
“It never crossed his mind to betray the party and the country; what more about leaving Umno,” said Najib.
Also present were Melaka Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob, Abdullah and wife, Tun Jeanne Abdullah.
Najib said he looked up to Abdullah as the fifth prime minister and the sixth Umno president, who had relentlessly served the people since 1964, beginning as a public servant.
“For me, Abdullah is a true friend because he remains loyal and is willing to be with me and the government in good and bad times.
“What’s more, he has passed on the leadership baton — Umno presidency and the premiership — to me without fuss.”
Najib also said he would never forget Abdullah’s word of wisdom, asking him “to work with him, instead of working for him”.
“This is so true, as the saying goes, if you want to go fast, you go alone, but if you want to go far, you go together,” said the prime minister.
Najib also pledged RM5 million for the Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Legacy Association, which would be disbursed this year.
Established on Sept 4, 2016, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Legacy Association was formed under Section 7 of the Societies Act 1966, Societies Regulations 1984.
The association organises activities that focused on the main legacy inspired by Abdullah such as human capital, Islam Hadhari, National Integrity Plan, National Mission, Economic Corridor Development, halal industry, as well as waqaf and integrity.
Later, the prime minister stayed on to listen to a forum on human capital development.
One of the panelists, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia ViceChancellor Professor Datuk Seri Dr Noor Azlan Ghazali said the education sector would evolve and it would require Malaysians to adapt quickly to survive.
Another panellist, International Islamic University Rector Professor Datuk Seri Dr Zaleha Kamarudin, stressed producing excellent human capital with strong values.