BY NEVILLE TIMOTHY SANDERS and LAKESH KUMAR
KOTA SAMARAHAN: Tributes continued flowing for former Prime Minister, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who passed away on Monday, with a state minister remembering him as a kind and gentle man.
Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister, Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, described Abdullah, fondly known as Pak Lah, as a patient and experienced leader, particularly in the field of politics.
“It is very sad to hear of his passing. Our heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies go out to his family during this difficult time,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters after officiating the at the Innovation STEM Kota Samarahan Competition Programme at Jubilee Hall, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Sarawak Branch, today.
Abdullah passed away on Tuesday (April 14) at the age of 85, after struggling with dementia in recent years.
His son-in-law and former Health Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin, confirmed the news via an Instagram story, saying that Abdullah died at the National Heart Institute (IJN) in Kuala Lumpur at 7.10 pm.
According to IJN, Abdullah had been admitted on the morning of April 13 due to breathing difficulties, and was receiving intensive care in the coronary care unit.
He had previously been hospitalised in April 2024 with a collapsed lung but recovered after receiving treatment at IJN’s critical care unit.
Abdullah succeeded Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as Prime Minister in 2003 and led Barisan Nasional (BN) to a landslide victory in the 2004 General Election, securing 90 per cent of parliamentary seats.
However, in 2008, BN lost its two-thirds majority in Parliament for the first time and relinquished control of five state governments to the opposition.
Amid mounting criticism, including from Dr Mahathir, Abdullah stepped down in April 2009, passing the leadership to his then deputy, Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
