TUN RAZAK A COMPETENT, EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATOR - MALAYSIAN PM NAJIB

PUTRAJAYA, July 29 (Bernama) –- Malaysia's second prime minister Tun Abdul
Razak Hussein was a competent and efficient administrator, said his eldest son,
Najib Tun Razak.

"This can be said to be a universal opinion. He was a good and efficient
administrator. Tun Razak was known in this aspect," said Najib when opening the
"Tun Abdul Razak, Father of Development - A Narration" event here Wednesday.

"Talking about being efficient and hardworking, Tun Razak was proud that he
accomplished reading law in 18 months.

"When I was small, that was his favourite line to me. Perhaps he wanted me
to remember this or to motivate me. In other words, it was his way of saying "if
I can do it, you can do it too"," said Najib, who followed in his father's
footsteps by becoming Malaysia's sixth prime minister.

Najib said Tun Razak also had the ability to choose the best and most
suitable candidates to fill certain positions.

"Choosing the right person for the right job... He had that ability as he
knew them (the candidates), and he also knew their fathers.

"When he wanted to push ITM (now Universiti Teknologi Mara) forward,
Arshad Ayub was the man to do it. He (Arshad) could scold people, could beat up
students if he wanted to. He was the right man.

"For an administrator, it was GK Rama Iyer. (He) was one of the top
administrators during Tun Razak's time. If Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA),
Tan Sri Michael Chen was there with him all the way," he said, adding that he
also saw his father as a builder of institutions.

He said ITM, UKM (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia), Bank Bumiputra, Pernas,
Felda, Felcra, Risda, SEDCs (state economic development corporations) were among
the institutions he built for Malaysians.

"Today these are Tun Razak's legacy for our country," he added.

Tun Razak, Najib said, also feared absolute power.

"It tells everything about this man. It is very strange... bizarre, he had
said (to have absolute power)," said Najib, who lost his father when he was 22.

He was referring to the time Tun Razak was the director of the National
Operations Council (Mageran) which was established to temporarily govern the
country from 1969 to 1971 following the May 13, 1969 racial disturbances.

As Mageran director, Tun Razak commanded absolute power.

Najib said his words about absolute power to him were, "I do not want
absolute power one day more than what is right for me. I just want to restore
the country and will return the democratic path for our country."

The prime minister said, "He (Tun Razak) wanted legitimate power from the
people. This meant that he was willing to be a leader with legitimate
authority... who had a moral authority ... a leader elected by the people."


Najib also said his father would take time to hear the grievances of the
people, especially rural folks, despite his busy schedule.

"I still remember when villagers came (to the house), although he was busy,
he made time for the simple folk who wanted to see him.

"I still remember if when he saw villagers waiting on the staircase of the
house, he would gesture to them to come into the house. He would ask whether
they had eaten.

"It was a simple thing to do but it meant a lot to the villagers," added
Najib.

Najib said etched forever in his mind were memories of his father clad in a
bush jacket, walking with a walking stick and always clearing his throat.

Abdul Razak, who was named Malaysia's Father of Development, died of
leukaemia in London on Jan 14, 1976.

-- BERNAMA




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