MALAYSIAN FORMER PM ABDULLAH AWARDED KING FAISAL INTERNATIONAL PRIZE

KUALA LUMPUR, March 14 (Bernama) -- Former Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has received the King Faisal International Prize under the Service to Islam category.

The prize was presented to him by Saudi Arabia Second Deputy Prime Minister Prince Nayef Abdul Aziz Al-Saud in Riyadh Sunday.

Abdullah was selected for the award in recognition of his outstanding services to Islam, both within Malaysia and abroad, as well as for his role in reinforcing Malaysian economic development.

In his acceptance speech, Abdullah said he gave his attention to the areas he thought Malaysians needed most.

"Islam Hadhari (civilizational Islam) sprung from my deep religious roots and my insight into what I understood to be the essence of the teachings of Islam based on the Quran and Hadith the sayings and examples of the Prophet)," he said.

In this regard, Abdullah said, human capital development became his central strategy for progress.

"Developing human capital is not merely accumulating knowledge and skills, it is integrated and wholesome advancement of the human person combining mental and prowess with moral integrity and spiritual strength," he said.

The awards were presented in four categories to seven recipients from Malaysia, the United States, Japan, Turkey and Jordan.