Najib Tun Razak
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| Najib bin Tun Razak | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office October 31, 2004 |
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| Preceded by | Abdullah Ahmad Badawi |
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Minister of Defence of Malaysia
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office October 31, 2004 |
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| Born | 23 July 1953 Kuala Lipis, Pahang |
| Political party | Barisan Nasional, UMNO |
| Spouse | Rosmah Mansor |
| Children | 1. Mohd. Nizar 2. Puteri Norliza 3. Mohd. Nasifuddin 4. Nooriyana Najwa 5. Norashman Razak |
| Occupation | Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Defence Minister of Malaysia, Member of Parliament |
| Religion | Islam |
| Malaysia |
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Dato' Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak (born July 23, 1953, in Kuala Lipis, Pahang) is a Malaysian politician, who has been the country's Deputy Prime Minister since January 7, 2004. Najib is a member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), and is currently the Deputy President of the party.
Najib is the eldest son of Tun Abdul Razak, the second Prime Minister of Malaysia, and a nephew of Tun Hussein Onn, the third PM. He was first elected to the Dewan Rakyat, representing the parliamentary constituency of Pekan, at the age of 23 in an uncontested election after the death of his father. In his career, Najib has held a variety of ministerial portfolios (the first at the age of 32), culminating in the post of Minister of Defence before being chosen as the deputy PM by Abdullah Badawi. Najib holds the title of Orang Kaya Indera Shahbandar of Pahang. His second wife is Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor with whom he has three sons, Nizar (born 1978), Nazifuddin and Norashman, and two daughters, Puteri Norlisa and Nooryana Narjawa.
Tengku Puteri Zainah Tengku Eskandar is Najib's first wife with whom he has 3 children. They were married in 1976 and divorced in 1987. During their divorce proceeding, Zainah sued Najib for RM5 million alimony. [1]
Najib had his primary and secondary education at St. John's Institution, Kuala Lumpur. He also attended Malvern College, Worcestershire, England and subsequently attended the University of Nottingham.
[edit] Controversies
In 1987, as UMNO Youth Chief, Najib defended special Malay privileges in a widely documented speech where he vowed to bathe the keris (Malay dagger) with Chinese blood.[2] Shortly afterwards, the government launched a crackdown on extremist elements, termed Operation Lalang, although Najib was not detained.[3] At the same rally, banners were hoisted carrying phrases such as "revoke the citizenship of those who opposed the Malay rulers", "May 13 has begun" (referring to the May 13 racial riots in 1969), and "soak it (the keris) with Malaysian Chinese blood". [4]
He had a close aide, Abdul Razak Baginda, who was involved in a high-profile murder case of a Mongolian woman[5], Altantuya Shaaribuu. While Abdul Razak Baginda is one of the three accused currently on trial, Najib was reportedly implicated in a court affidavit that he was in a photograph together with Abdul Razak Baginda and Altantuya. [6] However, Najib has been completely spared from investigation by the Malaysian authorities, raising doubt to the judicial process. A more detailed legal analysis can be found in an article by Malaysia Today. [7]
He recently declared that Malaysia has, "never been secular because being secular by Western definition means separation of the Islamic principles of in the way we govern the country.”[8]
The Malaysian National Service, a brainchild of Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak, has been plagued with poor management right from its inception.[9] As of May 2008, there have been 16 deaths in the Malaysian National Service.[10] Najib, on two occasions within a year, has demonstrated nothing but indifference in regards to these deaths. On one occasion, he was quoted as saying that "only" 14 children have died, in an attempt to minimize the bad press being received for these deaths.[11] When recently pressured by more calls to suspend the program due to the 16th death, Najib responded that it was not feasible to stop the program since "many parties are involved".[12] That last statement only served to fuel more irritation amongst Malaysian parents and the public in general, and reinforced the belief that Najib is more concerned about keeping the gravy train running and awarding contracts to politically connected contractors to run the training camps, than he is about the death of children.[13]
In many of the controversies about him, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi identified Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak on 6th April, 2008 as his probable successor in line with the ruling party's tradition of political succession.[14] Because of his implied involvement in the controversial Altantuya case, where the court trial has gone through numerous irregularities and delays [15], this has been seen by many as disastrous to Malaysia if the succession were to materialise.[16]
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ "Najib's ex-wife sues for RM5m alimony", Straits Times, Dec 27, 1997.
- ^ The political revival of Malaysia's Anwar(May 10, 2007) Asia Times
- ^ Kamarudin, Raja Petra (Aug. 1, 2005). "Umno's relevance lies in Ketuanan Melayu". Malaysia Today.
- ^ Lim, Kit Siang (2000). "GPMS' extremist demands - a prelude to escalation of ethnic tensions to justify another Operation Lalang mass crackdown to shore up Mahathir and UMNO’s tottering position?". Retrieved Dec. 21, 2005.
- ^ Model's murder raises explosive questions for Malaysian minister
- ^ "Najib denies link to Altantuya murder", MalaysiaKini, 30 Jul 2007. Retrieved on 2008-04-30.
- ^ "Let’s send the Altantuya murderers to hell", Malaysia-Today.net=25 Apr 2008. Retrieved on 2008-05-03.
- ^ Islam’s war on sin dims bright lights in a nation torn between cultures, Nick Meo, Kota Bharu, August 18, 2007
- ^ Malaysia's 3-month national service a flop? (May 4, 2004) Asia Times Online
- ^ Malaysian family to sue government over daughter's death during national service (May 11, 2008) International Herald Tribune
- ^ Government Won't Compromise On Negligence At NS Training Camps (September 06, 2007) Bernama - Malaysian National News Agency
- ^ NS to outsource check-ups (May 11, 2008) The New Straits Times
- ^ Why the great reluctance to stop NS? (May 13, 2008) Malaysiakini
- ^ Malaysia's government blueprint for political succession grows clearer
- ^ "Altantuya's dad appeals to MPs for help", MalaysiaKini, 28 Apr 2008. Retrieved on 2008-04-30.
- ^ Insert footnote text here
| Preceded by Abdullah Ahmad Badawi |
Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia 2003- |
Succeeded by incumbent |
