Najib Razak 40 Years 40 Pictures

NAJIB RAZAK 40 YEARS 40 PICTURES

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This book was made possible through the generous assistance of

Jabatan Perdana Menteri

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Sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia “This mandate that I seek is about continuity and sustainability against disruption and stagnation, about moving forward versus regressing. We have to safeguard what we have already achieved. We cannot put at risk what we have; we cannot gamble away our future.”

Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak with his wife, Datin Paduka Sri Rosmah Mansor, after the handover ceremony in Putrajaya.

Najib had earlier received the prime minister’s blue desk file to signify the official handing over of duties and responsibilities from Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, April 3, 2009. Picture by Izhari Ariffin.

ON THE COVER - Najib delivers his keynote address during a gathering for Skim Latihan 1Malaysia participants at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Nov 11, 2015. Picture by Aizuddin Saad

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Najib with his predecessor Najib enjoyed good working relations and developed mutual trust and respect with his predecessor Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. In his speech at a ceremony to honour the retirement of the fifth prime minister, Najib said Abdullah’s openness and transparency in administration when he assumed office in 2003 contributed largely to a flourishing democracy in the country.

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Najib shares a light moment with his predecessor Tun Abdullah. Picture | Najib’s personal collection

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NAJIB RAZAK, THE SIXTH PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Abd Razak is the sixth and current prime minister of Malaysia.

He was sworn in to the position on April 3, 2009, to succeed Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

He is also the president of the United Malays National Organisation (Umno), the leading party in Malaysia’s ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.

Najib was born on July 23, 1953, in Kuala Lipis, Pahang. He was educated at St John’s Institution in Kuala Lumpur and Malvern College in Worcestershire, England and subsequently went to the University of Nottingham where he received a bachelor’s degree in industrial economics in 1974.

One could say that Najib was born into politics. He is the son and nephew of earlier prime ministers. His father Tun Abdul Razak Hussein was Malaysia’s second prime minister (1970–1976) while his uncle Tun Hussein Onn was the country’s third premier (1976–1981).

His maternal grandfather Tan Sri Mohammad Noah Omar was also highly regarded in the political world as one of Umno’s founding members, a former home minister and first speaker of Dewan Rakyat. Najib was also from a noble background; his paternal grandfather Datuk Hussein Mohd Taib was one of the four noblemen of the Pahang Royal Court.

Family background and fate inexorably pushed Najib into the public sphere at an early age. The untimely passing of his father on Jan 14, 1976, pushed him into the political spotlight when he was only 22 years and 10 months old. Nationwide grief and a show of appreciation for Tun Razak’s contributions to the development of the country saw Najib elected uncontested to his late father’s Parliamentary seat of Pekan in Pahang on Feb 21, 1976.

Four decades later, after a long political journey and leading and serving various fields, Najib is now in the same spot his father was – the prime minister of Malaysia.

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A loving father “Their uniqueness not only adds grace to the family but they also play a crucial role in addressing life’s challenges. The Government recognises that women have a pivotal role in national development and in nurturing future generations.”

Najib and Rosmah with their children Nooryana Najwa Najib and Nor Ashman Najib. This picture was taken when Najib was serving his first term as the Defence Minister. Picture | Najib’s personal collection

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Najib, aged 5 months, with parents Tun Abdul Razak Hussein and Tun Rahah Mohammad Noah.

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Dear readers, IN his own words, Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak has likened politics to a marathon. In the context of Malaysian politics, the prime minister himself is akin to a seasoned marathon runner, having clocked in an outstanding milestone of 40 years in politics this year. Many regard him as a political blue blood — he is the son of Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, Malaysia’s second prime minister, and the nephew of the third, Tun Hussein Onn. But pedigree alone, as Najib aptly demonstrates, doesn’t guarantee longevity and success. Najib didn’t take shortcuts, his climb to the summit of the political echelon was not rushed. He didn’t skip a single step – in fact, it took him more than 33 years to reach his present position. Some of his peers had taken less time to get to the top but Najib, the man, understands the value of perseverance. In a span of four decades, he had perfected the art of politics, mastered the job of governing and sharpened his leadership skills.

The story of his first steps into politics is well known. In his autobiography, Najib acknowledges that the untimely passing of his father, Tun Abdul Razak, on January 14, 1976, had pushed him into the political spotlight. “Five weeks after my father’s death, I was elected to fill the Pekan vacancy (left by my father). I was 22 and became the youngest person ever elected as member of parliament in Malaysia. Almost four decades later, after leading and serving in various fields, I am now in the same spot my father was.” In his first year as an MP, he was named Deputy Minister of Energy, Telecommunications and Posts. He later served as Deputy Minister of Education and Deputy Minister of Finance. In 1982, he became the Menteri Besar of Pahang at the age of 29.

After almost three decades in Umno and after holding various key cabinet posts, Najib became Deputy Prime Minister in 2004. And, on April 3, 2009, he became the Prime Minister, succeeding Tun Abdullah Hj Ahmad Badawi. Under Najib’s chairmanship, Barisan Nasional retained power in the 2013 general election.

This coffee-table book is published not only to commemorate Najib’s four decades of political journey but also to chart the progress of the nation which Najib now helms. “Najib Razak 40 Years 40 Pictures” tells the journey of a young Najib who, fresh from his UK studies, was plunged into national politics as the nation mourned the loss of his father and a respected statesman to the man he is today. The authors have painstakingly selected 40 of the best photographs that exhaustively attempt to capture Najib’s definitive moments in the 40 years of his political life that he has devoted to the nation and the people. Some of the photographs featured are either rare or have previously been unpublished.

A multiracial Malaysia is not an easy nation to govern. Najib’s political path has been littered with trials and tribulations but he has staunchly withstood the storms, proving time and again that he has the stamina, drive and passion to emerge stronger from any crisis. Transforming the nation is the hallmark of Najib’s premiership. It is still work in progress but there has been some success in some sectors; with the end goal to turn Malaysia into a developed nation by 2020. He has successfully shifted the nation towards embracing reforms and changes. A myriad of obsolete laws have been disposed of, amended or replaced, tax reforms have been introduced, programmes to benefit all strata of societies with special attention given to elevate the hardships of the B40 group and many more have been activated

by Najib. The latest coup is Malaysia partnering 11 other nations to launch the ambitious free-trade pact, the TransPacific Partnership, that will open up opportunities to expanded markets.

This coffee-table book attempts to capture Najib in his element and more. The goal is simple: to remind Malaysians of Najib’s invaluable contributions as a consummate politician over the past four decades, plus his role as a visionary and a true reformer of today.

Datuk Abdul Jalil Hamid Group Managing Editor The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

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Sharing experience to build ASEAN community “As the leader of Southeast Asia’s oldest democracy, I am always keen to share our experiences. In the half-century since independence, we have found that steady reform is the best way to secure lasting stability. It is a process that continues in Malaysia to this day.”

Leaders of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) hold hands for the traditional Asean handshake during the 27th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Nov 21, 2015.

Picture by Yazit Razali

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Leader of Umno Youth “When told by the party to contest in the by-election in 1976, I was stunned as I was not even 23 years old then but I asked myself whether I could take on this heavy challenge. I could not imagine at that time what would happen to our party, but I was aware that whatever the situation, the struggle must continue. We must persevere and use our wisdom to find ways to resurrect the party which has served us well.

Alhamdulillah, we see Umno being more successful today.�

As acting Umno Youth leader, Najib being carried by supporters upon arrival at the Pemuda Umno rally at Jalan Raja Muda Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Oct 17, 1987.

Picture | NSTP Archive

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1Malaysia Najib’s 1Malaysia concept is a vision to create a harmonious Malaysian society, which is vital for Malaysia to successfully attain developed nation status.

The concept stresses on the acceptance and inclusion of other cultures within the Malaysian realm and that unity is vital for a country with plural society like Malaysia.

Cartoon by Lat

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With US President Barack Obama “The world is shifting from a hegemonic era, where the United States dominated alone, to a multipolar system.�

Najib welcomes Obama at Seri Perdana in Putrajaya April 27, 2014.

Picture by Effendy Rashid

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A young leader “We need more outstanding young Malaysians who have the initiative, perseverance and a sense of idealism who are roles models to look up to, and to encourage more social entrepreneurs to come forward.�

Najib confered as Orang Kaya Indera Shahbandar which carries the title of Datuk.

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As Education Minister Issues on education are close to Najib’s heart. He wants the Government to continue providing allocation to develop and maintain education facilities. He also encourages the rakyat to pursue higher education in order to produce Malaysian citizens who are knowledgeable, honourable, responsible, competent and capable of achieving well-being and contribute to the harmony and prosperity of the community and country.

Najib with students receiving computers from Time Telekom, Oct 6, 1998.

Picture | NSTP Archive

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OFF TO A GREAT START Najib immediately adapted to public life and to the rigors and high expectations of his position as a member of parliament and soon found that the art of politics came naturally to him.

Within a short time, Najib showed that he was a credible and capable politician and a leader in his own right. He was young, energetic, humble, well-liked and in no time managed to establish himself as an emerging star in Malaysia’s political scene.

Najib scored a string of ‘youngest’ titles throughout his political career. Not only was he elected as Malaysia’s youngest member of parliament, two years later at the age of 25 he was made the youngest ever deputy minister when he was tasked with the post at the energy, telecommunications and post ministry.

He later served as deputy education minister and deputy finance minister.

In 1982, when he was 29, Najib became the youngest menteri besar (chief minister) of his home state, Pahang, and at the age of 32 became the youngest cabinet member in Malaysian history, at that time, when he was appointed the culture, youth and sports minister.

He was made a datuk at the age of 25 when conferred the Darjah Sultan Ahmad Shah, Pahang in 1978.

He was also hailed as a rising star within Umno and chosen as the deputy chief of Umno Youth at the age of 29 in 1982.

Malaysia was going through an exciting period in the 1980s with the economy experiencing rapid growth, among the fastest in Asia then. The economic growth and fast development greatly changed the lifestyle of Malaysians and their outlook on life.

The nation was in an urgent need for young and educated leaders who could learn the ropes fast and establish themselves quickly with the people under the new environment.

Najib was there, ready to take new challenges and primed to rise to the top. He has already accumulated valuable skills and experience to undertake greater responsibility.

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Lahad Datu Intrusion “This is what I want to say that matters of public security and prosperity is my responsibility as the prime minister. It is also a collective responsibility. “We will not shirk from our responsibility but we give priority to the people of Malaysia.”

Najib and wife Rosmah pay their last respects to Inspector Zulkifli Mamat and Sergeant Sabaruddin Daud killed by intruders in the Lahad Datu stand-off, at the Royal Malaysian Air Force base in Subang, March 2, 2013. With them is Zulkifli’s son, Mohamad Akmaruddin Zulkifli. Picture by Mohd Yusni Ariffin

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Leader of the ruling coalition “BN stands for policies based on multiculturalism, multi-lingualism, and multi-ethnic and multireligionism. Moderation, interracial cooperation and progressive ideas form the ideology of the ruling coalition. We can have differences of opinions... we have a process on how to harmonise our differences within BN.�

Najib with Barisan Nasional leaders unveil the Barisan manifesto at a Perhimpunan Janji 1Malaysia Rakyat Didahulukan at Stadium Putra in Bukit Jalil in Kuala Lumpur, April 6, 2013. Picture by Effendy Rashid

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Cat lover “We want the growth, we have to plan for that. We don’t want tourists to come here and be dissappointed. We want tourists to come here with nice feelings so that they will want to come again.”

Najib feeds fish to a cat after a luncheon with fishermen at the Sungai Chenang fish landing jetty during his visit to Langkawi, Jan 24, 2016.

Picture by Amran Hamid

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As Defence Minister “Every one of us has a role to play and if each of us played that role with sincerity with the intention of ensuring that our beloved country remains peaceful and free of terrorist threats, Malaysia will be peaceful and safeguarded with God’s blessings.”

Najib arrives at an army camp in Banding, Perak to meet members of the armed forces during Hari Raya, April 5, 1993.

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100th day as a premier “We will change for the better. I give you the commitment, we will change for the better.

But I ask (that it should be) not only me. Do not just look at the prime minister; we all must reflect the change. We must be like the train.

(When) the train is moving… it cannot be the locomotive alone… everybody else must work together.”

Najib delivers keynote address to mark his first 100 days as the premier in Kuala Lumpur, July 11, 2009.

Picture by Bazuki Muhammad | REUTERS

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Relations between neighbours “If there is some good news, then the whole village will be joyful. If there is a feast, the whole village will join hands to cook, make the necessary preparations and so on. Exercise tolerance and avoid irritating your neighbours. Make a start in this easy way, be good to neighbours.”

Najib and wife Rosmah with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and wife Ho Ching, tossing ‘yee sang’ at Fullerton Bay Hotel in Singapore, Feb 18, 2013. Picture by Hasan Ismail

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National Service “During the activities in national service, they will gain lots of knowledge, improve their health, gain new friends, and many more. Time is gold. So the youths should always remember that time is so precious for them to fill it with useful activities.�

Cartoon by Lat

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Winning Pekan Parliamentary seat Najib was given greater responsibility after winning the Pekan Parliamentary seat in 1986.

The top management of the party had full trust in his leadership talent and chose him to be the Menteri Besar of Pahang.

Celebrating his win after beating Pas candidate Ali Abdullah, Aug 4, 1986. Picture | NSTP Archive

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Support for Palestinian cause “We believe in the struggle of the Palestinian people.

They have been suppressed and oppressed for so long.�

Najib prays together with senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh while looking at the wreckage of the car in which Ahmed Jaabari, head of the Hamas military wing, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza strip, Jan 22, 2013. Picture by Azhar Mat Ganti

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The “big brother” in the family “What I am sure we can agree on, and we do not need to be reminded of, is why Tun Razak truly deserves to be known as our ‘bapa pembangunan’ (father of development). He gave his life for his country. Today, 40 years after his passing, I stand before you and say that I am proud to be his son, and that every day I work hard to live up to that lineage. He is an example for me, and an inspiration for all Malaysians.”

Family photo taken on March 11, 1967, when Tun Abdul Razak Hussein was Malaysia’s deputy prime minister. Najib’s sibblings are Johari, Nizam, Nazim and Nazir. Johari, however, was attending school, Malay College Kuala Kangsar, and not in the photo. Picture | NSTP Archive NAJIB RAZAK | 051

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PIVOTAL YEARS The year 1982 was perhaps the pivotal point in Najib’s political career, when he began to rise to prominence, unmatched by any other young contemporary politician in Malaysia.

In recognition of Najib’s outstanding achievements in various assignments earlier, despite his relatively young age, the then new Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad placed him to contest the state assembly seat of Pekan and he subsequently became the menteri besar of Pahang.

He was warmly welcomed by the palace, which had differences with the previous menteri besar. Najib’s arrival in Pahang not only stabilised the political scene but also lifted the people’s spirits after they witnessed him working hard and focusing on the state’s education and economic development.

In the 1986 general election, Najib returned to national politics as the member of parliament for Pekan and was appointed as culture, youth and sports minister. He wasted no time and instantly focused on improving Malaysian sports and introduced the National Sports Policy which established the foundations of the nation’s sports systems and guidelines for development.

In 1988 Najib was appointed Umno Youth chief, a post he held until 1993.

Najib’s involvement with youth, at the government and party level, was timely as the country was in the midst of preparing its young generations for the unique demands of a 21st century world. He fit the bill and the young Malaysians looked up to him because he was already well known.

Najib was made the defence minister in 1991 and undertook reforms to modernise and revitalise the Malaysian armed forces. He also oversaw the deployment of the famous Malbatt (Malaysian Battalion) to Bosnia and Herzegovina under the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) and to Somalia under the United Nations Operation in Somalia II (UNOSOM II). The welfare of armed forces personnel was also given attention as he improved their housing facilities and allowances.

Najib took on another challenge when he had a change in cabinet portfolio and was appointed education minister in 1995. Under his guidance, the national educational system went through a tremendous amount of change, including the introduction of the Education Act 1996.

During his five-year tenure at this challenging ministry, he put into place the mechanisms that would enable a generation of Malaysians to meet the challenges of the future to become a fully developed nation by the year 2020.

He restructured the ministry, created an independent corporate structure for public universities and encouraged collaboration with foreign universities and institutions.

This provided more educational opportunities for Malaysians and positioned the country as a regional education hub and a world-class centre of excellence in learning.

In 1999, Najib returned to the Defence Ministry for a second term and resumed his efforts to improve and modernise the armed forces. As minister, he instituted compulsory National Service in 2003, stating that it would encourage interaction and friendship between youth of different ethnic groups and religions and promote tolerance, teamwork and community engagement.

Youth and Sports Minister Like his late father, Najib is a sports fan. He has been promoting and encouraging youth to participate in sporting activities since 1982 when he was was appointed the culture, youth and sports minister.

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Najib as the youth and sports minister gives some words of encouragement to members of the Thomas Cup team. May 13, 1988. Picture | NSTP Archive

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With Japan’s Shinzo Abe Bilateral relations between Malaysia and Japan have expanded in various areas of cooperation encompassing economic, investment, education, tourism, science and technology as well as culture and people-to-people exchanges since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1957.

Najib and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe at the annual gathering of heads of government from Japan and the 10 members of Asean in Tokyo, Dec 12, 2013.

Picture | Prime Minister’s Department

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Losing a father at a young age “Tun Razak was a great democrat. He never wanted to use the powers he wielded. In fact, he seemed fearful of them and as soon as he could he sought to relinquish them. After peace returned to the country in 1971, Razak re-established parliamentary rule. That saved Malaysia and it saved Malaysian democracy from the fate that many other developing countries endured.”

Najib pays his respects to the late Tun Razak at the National Mausoleum. Earlier, Najib and the guests attended “tahlil” prayers at the National Mosque to mark first anniversary of Tun Razak’s death, Jan 15, 1977. Picture | NSTP Archive

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In the crowd “In other words, 1Malaysia is a concept to foster unity in Malaysians of all races based on several important values which should become the practice of every Malaysian.�

Najib surrounded by a huge crowd at the Jelajah Janji Ditepati carnival in Batu Pahat. More than 50,000 people turned up for the event, April 7, 2012.

Picture by Hairul Anuar Abd Rahim

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Concern for his people In December 2014, Najib cut short his visit to the United States to personally oversee the emergency response to Malaysia’s worst flooding in decades that has seen nearly 120,000 people evacuated. He flew to Kelantan to chair a meeting and receive briefings from the National Security Council, the National Disaster Management and Relief Committee, the state government and local emergency responders.

Najib with Perak menteri besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir inspecting the flood situation in Lembah, Kuala Kangsar, Dec 29, 2014. Picture by Mohd Yusni Ariffin

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Building a perfect Malaysia together “However, even as we are pushing for a united ummah, the most important and ultimate thing is that we must support efforts to unite Umno from within first.�

Najib shares the stage with Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and World Association for Al-Azhar Graduates International (WAAG Indonesia) president Professor Dr Muhammad Quraish Shihab at the World Association for Al-Azhar Graduates (WAAG Malaysia) International Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Dec 16, 2015.

Picture by Khairull Azry Bidin

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Xing Xing and Liang Liang The presence of Xing Xing which means Prosperity and Liang Liang or Pretty is an honour and a symbol of the strong relations between Malaysia and China.

Cartoon by Lat

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Meeting Rakyat “In spite of the huge diversity in Malaysia in terms of religion, culture, race, ethnicity and so forth, we’ve really gone very far in developing this country.”

Meeting the family of Lim Bok Huat at Bagan Cina, Kampung Sungai Tiang in Bagan Datoh, June 20, 2010.

Picture by Ikhwan Munir

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With family of ill-fated MH17 “It has been, and will remain, a difficult journey – particularly for those who lost their loved ones, who are in my thoughts and prayers.

But I promise you that Malaysia will remain steadfast until those behind this heinous act are made to pay for their crimes.”

Najib and wife Rosmah meet family members of MH17 victims at Marriot Hotel in Putrajaya, July 18, 2014.

Picture by Sairien Nafis

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PREMIER-IN-WAITING Najib was appointed deputy prime minister in 2004, exactly 47 years after his father was appointed to the same post, and was tasked with a broad portfolio of responsibilities.

He is the successor of Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who was the fifth prime minister of Malaysia, replacing Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

While serving as deputy prime minister, Najib remained the defence minister until September 2008, when he took over as finance minister from Abdullah.

Najib managed to tackle all these considerable challenges. His experience in both ministerial and state government administration has helped him carry out his duties and responsibilities smoothly. His sensitivity to issues both domestic and international has prepared him to address changing and uncertain times.

While serving as the second most powerful man in the country, he was given the opportunity to chair 28 Cabinet Committees presiding over a wide range of issues.

Aside from these, he was also given the responsibility to oversee Federal Land Development Authority’s (Felda) ambitious plan to strengthen its business in oil palm plantations and become the world’s largest plantation operator.

He helped guide Felda to become a respectable corporate player in the country by launching a number of private corporate entities. Under Najib, Felda began taking steps to undertake business activities that were non-plantation-related, such as property investment.

Najib’s office also oversaw the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) and the Election Commission. As Malaysia faces relentless economic development, Suhakam plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the rights of the people are not neglected and that the potential negative impacts of development are minimised.

Since becoming deputy prime minister, Najib promised that Malaysia would introduce democratic reforms through means other than street demonstrations, which would lead to anarchy and chaos.

He also made it clear early that he wanted Malaysia to change for the better in the future, even though such change would not be possible overnight.

In his book “Globalising Malaysia: Towards Building a Developed Nation”, published in 2006, Najib stressed the need to turn Malaysia into a “balanced society”; one that is caring, knowledgeable, and economically vibrant. He stated that Malaysians must be prepared to “make adjustments and sacrifices as we tread our way forward”.

Another interesting fact about Najib was that when he became the number two in both Umno and government, he remained loyal to his boss, Abdullah.

Occasionally, when there were rumblings about discord between the two, Najib attempted to quell such speculation by declaring his unwavering support for Abdullah and Umno, which he appears to genuinely view as a source of national strength and unity.

It has been a long journey and after being Abdullah’s deputy for almost five years, Najib was ready for the big job.

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Concern for the unfortunates “I have a plan, and the plan is working. I will not be distracted, for there are serious consequences of not seeing the plan through. Budget 2016 will demonstrate how the plan will improve the lives of all Malaysians, and our next step towards achieving Vision 2020 and achieving developed nation status.

The future and welfare of all Malaysians is my top priority.�

Chatting with Lim Kim Hua, 63, a homeless person, during his visit to the Pudu area in Kuala Lumpur, July 9, 2014. Picture by Mohd Yusni Ariffin

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With siblings “My father wanted me to be independent and develop my character (on being sent to Malvern College at early age). He wanted me to be treated like any ordinary student there. I managed to adapt to the situation at the college although it was a big shock for me in the early stage. Studying in a different environment and culture had taught me how to adapt with the situation. I feel equally at ease when speaking with Obama, (US President Barack Obama), Cameron (British Prime Minister David Cameron) and Xi Jinping (Chinese President). My sweetest memory was when I scored five goals during sports houses football matches and the bitter memory was when I had to sleep at a mountain during a training in winter. I could not sleep at all.”

Tun Rahah Mohammad Noah and her sons Datuk Seri Nazir Razak, Datuk Johari Razak, Najib, Datuk Nizam Razak and Datuk Nazim Razak. Picture | Najib’s personal collection.

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Peace broker “An Asean characterised by internal conflicts could never aspire to be a true community. To be a community, we must address internal conflicts within our region.

This is why we are working with other countries to build peace.�

Najib and Philippine President Benigno Aquino look on as peace negotiators from the Philippines and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) exchange signed documents of a framework agreement for peace at a ceremony at the Malacanang Palace in Manila, Oct 15, 2012. Picture by AFP Photo

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Finance Minister “Malaysia is on track to achieving its goal of becoming a high-income nation by 2020 despite the current volatile global economic situation. However the country must always be prepared for changing conditions and external shocks beyond its control.

The fundamentals of the country’s economy remained strong and there were indicators showing its economy was on the right track.”

Najib presents the 2016 Budget in Parliament in Kuala Lumpur.

Oct 23, 2015. Picture by Shahril Badri Saali

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Menteri Besar of Pahang As Pahang menteri besar, Najib played a very active role in developing the state and making sure the people’s well-being was well taken care of. While serving the state, he established Yayasan Pahang, a foundation dedicated to promoting education and sports among the youth of Pahang through scholarships and funding.

Najib hands over a personal donation of RM500 to Mohd Natar Seman, 62, in Kuala Lipis, Pahang, Oct 13, 1985. Natar’s wife, Siti Hajar Derani, 45, was killed in a fire which destroyed his house. Picture | NSTP Archive

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Acting Women, Family and Community Development Minister “Once we change the mindset, only then can women move forward and one day Malaysia could see its first female prime minister.�

Cartoon by Lat

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Deputy Energy, Telecommunications and Post Minister “For Malaysia to become an advanced economy and inclusive nation, the government stressed on the importance of enhancing a knowledgeable and skilled ICT-savvy society supported by a robust, vibrant and sustainable ICT industry. Efforts would be strengthened to drive ICT in the knowledge economy through four main strategies – reenergising the ICT industry, ensuring adequate and continuous supply of high quality ICT human capital, improving ICT infrastructure and pursuing digital inclusion. This would increase productivity through innovation and enhance competitiveness whilst engendering greater wealth creation.”

Najib, who was then the deputy energy, telecommunications and post minister, tries out a telephone at the newly-opened telecom exchange in Sungai Way, July 12, 1979. Picture | NSTP Archive

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With Youth “In spite of the huge diversity in Malaysia in terms of religion, culture, race, ethnicity and so forth, we’ve really gone very far in developing this country.”

Najib and Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin at the Youth Festival in Putrajaya, May 25, 2013.

Picture by Effendy Rashid

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President of Umno “In our determination to struggle, even if the sky crashes down, even if the earth is split into two, with the motto ‘Bersatu, Bersetia dan Berkhidmat’, (Unity, Loyalty and Service), Umno is the only party belonging to us.

Defend it, defend it together.”

Najib, seen on giant screens, delivers his speech during the opening of the Umno General Assembly at Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Dec 10, 2015. Picture by Yusni Ariffin 094 | NAJIB RAZAK

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AT THE HELM In March 2009, Najib was elected unopposed as Umno president after Abdullah decided not to seek re-election.

and the country is on track to become an advanced economy by 2020.

Following this, Najib was appointed prime minister of Malaysia before Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mua’dzam Shah in a smooth handover from Abdullah on April 3, 2009.

The achievement was recognised by international bodies such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, which had ranked Malaysia near the top of the tables for competitiveness and ease of doing business. At the same time international rating agencies such as Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings remain confident in the nation’s strong economic fundamentals and financial position by maintaining a good credit rating.

Najib had arrived at the pinnacle after 33 years in politics and government.

When he was sworn into the leadership position as the premier, he was presented with a challenge the likes of which had never been seen before, where the stakes were high, and the uphill task demanded true grit and endurance.

Since Najib took office, he has opened the door for reforms and transformations. He believes that in order for Malaysia to be a modern, progressive and forward-looking democracy, the country needs to embrace certain changes and adjust its stance to remain relevant while ensuring the people’s fundamental rights and freedoms are protected.

He implemented the most far-reaching package of political reforms since Malaysia’s independence. For instance, the colonial era Internal Security Act was repealed, restrictions on newspaper publishing licenses were scrapped while the ban on students joining political parties was lifted. In addition, he also reviewed the Sedition Act. Najib also announced a number of proactive measures to ensure Malaysia’s growth and development remain on track in responding to changes in the global economic landscape.

He launched the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) to improve the quality of public services, increase efficiency and make the government more transparent. Alongside this initiative, Najib introduced the Economic Transformation Plan (ETP) with reforms to create a business environment conducive to economic growth, development and investment. The goal is to elevate Malaysia to a developed and high income nation by 2020.

The successful implementation of GTP and ETP has attracted the attention of the world and was emulated by a number of countries. Despite mounting challenges, under Najib’s stewardship, Malaysia’s economic fundamentals remained strong

Since assuming office, he has also made significant strides within relatively limited time in deepening and expanding Malaysia’s bilateral relations with its important international partners.

Under Najib, clearly the people’s well-being came first as he placed the focus on bread-and-butter issues such as affordable housing, education, lower food prices and lower cost of living.

He launched the 1Malaysia campaign to re-orient the country towards a new direction geared towards greater unity and harmony and better governance in the nation. To him the days of a nation functioning as independent and separate ethnic and racial communities are gone.

Various 1Malaysia products have been introduced and have received acceptance by millions of Malaysians, in both rural and urban areas, such as 1Malaysia People’s Assistance (BR1M), 1Malaysia Book Voucher (BB1M), Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M) and Klinik 1Malaysia.

In January 2016, the local and international community praised Najib and reacted positively to his move to adjust Malaysia’s Budget for 2016 after taking into account the current global economic developments. He had done this to ensure the national budget is accurate, realistic and according to the economic situation Malaysia is facing.

Despite the long list of challenges he faces, Najib has shown wisdom through all the tests and allegations and his strength and tenacity have been acknowledged by many.

It was 40 years ago that a young fresh-faced man was thrust into the political spotlight. But, that was only the beginning of what has become a very interesting story.

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With the Rakyat “With the empowerment of the Bumiputera economy too, I want all chief executive officers in GLCs to fix targets on the participation of Bumiputera including acquisitions awarded to vendors. This should be included in the Key Peformance Index for the chief executive officers of the respective companies.�

Najib sits on the floor during lunch at the National Economic Empowerment Seminar in Masjid Wilayah, Kuala Lumpur, Nov 24, 2013. Picture by Aizuddin Saad

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Sharing the same dream “I would like to see that we all have a sense of belonging in Malaysia, irrespective of our race, and feel that this is our country. This is our birthplace, this is the country that we will give our undivided loyalty and commitment to. If we can have the resolve, it means we have already reached the stage of embracing the 1Malaysia concept. I always say ‘One Dream, One People, One Nation’.”

Najib, wife Rosmah, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim mingle with the crowd during the 55th Merdeka Day celebration at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur, Aug 31, 2012. Picture by Sairien Nafis

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With Xi Jinping “Over the past four decades, as our nations have developed, we have grown closer together. China is Malaysia’s largest trading partner; and Malaysia is China’s largest trading partner in Asean. We formed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for prosperity and growth. And last year, we signed a Five Year Development Programme for Economic and Trade Cooperation.”

Najib meets Chinese President Xi Jinping at Diaoyutai State House in Beijing, May 30, 2014.

NAJIB RAZAK Picture by Bernama

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40 Years Journey in Politics

1976

Member of Parliament, Pekan, Pahang Head, Umno Youth, Pekan Branch

1978

Member, Umno Youth’s Executive Council Deputy Minister of Energy, Telecommunications and Post

1980

Deputy Minister of Education

1981

Deputy Minister of Finance Member, Umno, Supreme Council

1982

Head, Umno, Pekan Division, Pahang Member, State Assembly, Bandar Pekan, Pahang Menteri Besar, Pahang Deputy Head, Umno Youth Member of Parliament, Pekan, Pahang Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports

1987

Minister of Youth and Sports Acting Head, Umno Youth

1988

Head, Umno Youth

1990

Minister of Defence

1993

Vice President, Umno

1995

Minister of Education

1999

Minister of Defence

2004

Deputy President, Umno Deputy Prime Minister / Defence Minister

2008

Minister of Finance

2009

President, Umno Prime Minister

2012

Acting Minister of Women, Family and Community

2016

40th Year in Politics

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Portraits of success Smart and stylish. Father and son take the time out of their busy schedule to pose for these pictures. According to Najib this is one of Tun Razak’s favourite self-portraits. Razak and Najib have remarkably driven the country to success and excellence.

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The King and two statesmen of different eras The photos show Najib’s father Tun Razak with Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, taken in the 1970s and himself with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Tuanku Abdul Halim is the first ruler to serve two separate terms in the rotational cycle of heads of state. He was fifth Yang di-Pertuan Agong, during Razak’s premiership, and is currently serving a second term as 14th Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

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With David Cameron “The government is committed to making Malaysia a hub for world class education. Malaysia is already ranked 11th in the Unesco list of preferred educational destinations.�

Najib and his British counterpart David Cameron speaking to students during their visit at the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus in Semenyih, April 12, 2012.

Picture by Effendy Rashid

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With Peneroka “We have liberalised the services sector, focused investment in key growth industries and divested state ownership in well-established companies. Felda Global and IHH Healthcare are cases in point. For many years, the government owned majority holdings in these fledgling companies, shielding them to some extent from the vagaries of the market, until they were mature enough to fly the nest. Felda Global is now the world’s third-largest palm oil company by acreage, while IHH Healthcare is Asia’s biggest hospital operator.”

Najib is hugged by former Jengka 22 Umno head and Felda settler Man Yasin, 71, in Temerloh, Pahang, Feb 27, 2011. Man said he had not expected Najib, the Barisan Nasional chairman, to pay him a visit at his home in Felda Jengka 22. Picture by Sairien Nafis

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NAJIB RAZAK 40 YEARS 40 PICTURES

Edition Two | February 2016 Publisher The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad Adviser Datuk Mohammad Azlan Abdullah Editor Datuk Abdul Jalil Hamid Writer Azizi Othman Azman Ahmad Termizi Creative Bazuki Muhammad Pictures Kamaruddin Ahmad Khairul Ghazali Production Ramlan Ramli ISBN : 978-983-871-045-9 All rights reserved. No part of this publication, articles, pictures and contents may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, photocopy, mechanical, recording, or any other ways without prior written consent from the publisher.

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NAJIB RAZAK

NSTP BOOKS

40 YEARS 40 PICTURES

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