KUALA TERENGGANU - The Terengganu State Legislative Assembly today recited the Al-Fatihah and observed a moment of silence to honour Malaysia’s fifth Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who died yesterday.
State Assembly Speaker Datuk Mohd Nor Hamzah in his address at the First Meeting of the Third Session of the 15th Terengganu State Assembly at Wisma Darul Iman, paid tribute to Tun Abdullah, who served as Prime Minister from 2003 to 2009.
He described the late leader as a calm and humble statesman who upheld the principles of integrity, moderation and trust in public administration.
"The leadership of the late Tun Abdullah also left a significant impact on Terengganu, especially in strengthening the relationship between the federal and state governments, including in terms of infrastructure and education development.
"The late Tun Abdullah’s contribution to improving the public service delivery system, expanding the space for dialogue between the people and the government and emphasising transparency in governance has benefited all the people, including the administration and the community in Terengganu,” he said.
Mohd Nor said that Abdullah’s services and contributions in shaping the political landscape and strengthening the country’s governance will continue to be remembered and serve as an example for future generations
"Let us all pray that his soul may be blessed and placed among the righteous,” he added.
Abdullah, 85, died at the National Heart Institute (IJN) in Kuala Lumpur at 7.10 pm yesterday.
Born on Nov 26, 1939, in Bayan Lepas, Abdullah, who was the Member of Parliament for Kepala Batas from 1978 to 2008, served as Prime Minister from Oct 31, 2003, to April 3, 2009. - BERNAMA