15 April 2025 : Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, a Muslim scholar who served as Malaysian premier after long-time leader Mahathir Mohamad stepped down, has died. He was 85.
His passing Monday was confirmed on social media by incumbent Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
A career politician, Abdullah served all four of Malaysia’s post-independence leaders in posts ranging from education minister to foreign minister. Mahathir fired his deputy Anwar in September 1998 following a clash over the imposition of capital controls during the Asian financial crisis and appointed Abdullah to succeed him when he retired in late 2003, after 22 years in the top job.
Abdullah returned to power with the largest parliamentary majority on record when he sought his own mandate in 2005. While affectionately known as “Pak Lah,” or Uncle Lah, because of his gentle manner, his popularity waned. After five years in charge, his Barisan Nasional coalition won the 2018 vote by the narrowest of margins.
Bad Choice
“I am very bad in choosing people,” Mahathir said in an interview in November, 2010, referring to both Anwar, who had been his long-time heir apparent, and his successor, with whom he had a rocky relationship.
Anwar was arrested in 1999 a few weeks after Mahathir had sacked him and was imprisoned after being convicted on corruption and sodomy charges, which he denied. Anwar finally became prime minister in 2022 after decades of angling for the top job.
Summary: Former Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, known for his political reforms and anti-corruption efforts, passed away at 85 due to heart disease.