PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Najib Razak has described former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as a real statesman who is loyal to the people, party and nation.

“Tun Abdullah never thought of sabotaging the party and the nation,” he said in his keynote speech at the launch of the Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Lecture titled Human Capital Drives The Nation, here yesterday.

Najib thanked Abdullah for his strong support to the government, Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN).

“I was touched by Tun Abdullah’s love for the party and the nation. He is a leader with a big heart and was willing to hand over the post of Umno president and prime minister to me according to party tradition.”

He said Abdullah is respected as a leader who upholds the status of Islam and Muslim scholars in line with his educational background in Islamic Studies.

“Tun Abdullah built the nation based on the concept of ‘Manhaj Hadhari’ or faith in Allah and government that is fair and trustworthy.

“He also introduced the 1Malaysia concept of ‘People First, Performance Now.’

During the event. Najib announced an initial allocation of RM5 million to the Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Legacy Organisation.

Established in September last year, the organisation will organise lectures and conduct research on the leadership of Abdullah with the aim to become a reference centre.

Also present were Yang Dipertua Negeri of Melaka, Mohd Khalil Yaakob, Abdullah’s wife, Jeanne Abdullah and Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Legacy Organisation chairman Jefridin Atan.

Abdullah, the fifth prime minister, began as a public service administrator in 1964. He is referred to as the Father of Human Capital Development.

His legacy includes assisting then prime minister Tun Abdul Razak in handling the race riots in 1969 in his capacity as a member of the National Operations Council (Mageran).