By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, April 15: The late Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was one of Malaysia’s least controversial and cleanest prime ministers, said Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, as he paid tribute to the former national leader who passed away yesterday (April 14).
Speaking on behalf of himself and his ministry, Abdul Karim expressed deep sadness over the passing of Abdullah, whom he described as a well-respected and widely accepted leader.
“He might not have been as vocal — bising macam yang lain (noisy like the others) — but he did his part as Prime Minister and was very well accepted by Malaysians,” he said during a press conference on the 42nd Premier Sarawak Cup ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors J300 (J1) at Baitul Makmur II Building in Petra Jaya here today.
Abdul Karim recalled that under Abdullah’s leadership, Barisan Nasional (BN) secured a more than two-thirds majority in Parliament, a feat that demonstrated the public’s strong support for him at the time.
The minister further praised the government’s decision to accord Abdullah a final resting place at the Heroes’ Mausoleum in Kuala Lumpur, calling it ‘very apt’ for a leader of his calibre.
“When we look at other former prime ministers, I believe this is one person (Abdullah) who is least controversial and least corrupted. The others, even though not yet found guilty, have been linked to so many bad things,” he said, adding that he saw none of that in Abdullah.
Abdul Karim continued, “We pray that his soul will be blessed and placed among the pious.”
It was reported that Abdullah breathed his last at the National Heart Institute (IJN) in Kuala Lumpur at 7.10pm at the age of 85. — DayakDaily
