BANGI, May 13 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s fifth Prime Minister, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, laid an important foundation by asserting that national development should not be measured solely by skyscrapers or highways, but by the growth of the people’s minds and values.
Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Legacy Organisation chairman, Datuk Jefridin Atan, said the late leader’s contributions to human capital development are a legacy that must be recognised and continued.
“Tun Abdullah often stressed that the nation needs citizens who are not only literate, but also thoughtful, technologically aware, and compassionate. It’s not just about obtaining academic qualifications, but about how knowledge is applied for the well-being of society and the advancement of the nation.
“Today, we see the positive impact of his focus on human capital. A culture of learning and lifelong education has become widespread, while his emphasis on integrity has raised awareness of the importance of good governance in both the public and private sectors,” he said.
Jefridin was delivering the keynote address at the Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi: Menelusuri Denai Kepimpinan Berjiwa Terbilang seminar organised by the Institute of Islam Hadhari, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), here today.
Jefridin said that to truly understand Tun Abdullah’s emphasis on human capital development, one must consider the national context in the early 2000s, when he assumed the role of Prime Minister in October 2003.
At the time, Malaysia was recovering from the 1997–1998 Asian financial crisis and facing strong global economic competition, particularly from China and India.
“The global economy was shifting towards a knowledge-based model. Tun Abdullah recognised that Malaysia could no longer rely solely on low labour costs or natural resources alone.
“Instead, the country’s competitiveness had to be built on knowledge, creativity, and innovation - achievable only through quality human capital development,” said Jefridin, who also served as Tun Abdullah’s special officer.
Among the key initiatives introduced to realise this vision were the Islam Hadhari approach, reforms in education, economic corridor development, and public sector improvements.
Tun Abdullah, fondly known as Pak Lah, died at the National Heart Institute on April 14 and was laid to rest with full state funeral honours at the Heroes Mausoleum near the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur.
Meanwhile, UKM deputy vice-chancellor (Research and Innovation), Professor Datuk Dr Wan Kamal Mujani, said as a national institution of knowledge, UKM greatly values Tun Abdullah’s significant contributions to the university.
“One of the most meaningful was the establishment of the Institute of Islam Hadhari, inspired by his vision to promote a progressive Islamic approach rooted in maqasid syariah and aligned with the needs of Malaysia’s diverse society.
“Tun Abdullah also showed deep commitment to higher education, particularly in strengthening the knowledge ecosystem, upholding academic integrity, and fostering interfaith and civilisational dialogue,” he said.
The one-day seminar served as a platform for academic discourse on Tun Abdullah’s leadership, grounded in integrity and Islamic values through the Islam Hadhari concept. It also aimed to promote historical awareness and deepen public understanding of the human capital development championed by Tun Abdullah.
-- BERNAMA
