NO WHERE in Malaysia would the late Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's legacy be most profound other than his hometown of Kepala Batas, as some 120,000 residents there join in the nationwide mourning of the former premier, who passed on last night.
Abdullah or Pak Lah, a nickname coined by the local villagers there, was the one who brought transformation to the rustic township since he became the Kepala Batas MP in 1978 before retiring in 2013 at the same parliamentary constituency.
His gentle demeanour was said to have come from his frequent interactions with the local villagers, mostly padi farmers, whose plots border neighbouring Kedah.
"The rural sense of charm and how the farmers lived with humility based on their strong religious credentials rubbed off on Pak Lah," said Azizi Safar, a former Kepala Batas Umno division committee member.
Azizi Safar recalled that it was Pak Lah who had developed Kepala Batas into a cosmopolitan-like town when he transferred some of the federal and state government offices as well as services to the town due to the overcrowding in Butterworth.
Pak Lah (centre) with the Kepala Batas Umno Youth of 1989
"The government offices brought a rapid development pace, especially to Bertam, a new township which is still growing and generating economic spillovers."
Azizi said that Pak Lah is the first Umno leader from Penang to become a premier, and his quote of "work with me and not for me," had resonated warmly, especially in 2004 when he led the Barisan Nasional coalition to a sweeping victory with a huge majority.
And what did he do with a monstrous majority, he allowed for more democratic space which later led to the foundation of a two-party system in the country, Azizi pointed out.
"It was Pak Lah who had initially freed (present prime minister) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from his first imprisonment spell."
Today, Kepala Batas is a modern township with emphasis on agriculture and services such as tourism while Bertam is also growing in stature as a preferred residential area with a water theme park nested in the background.
Politically, Azizi pointed out that Pak Lah was in the doldrums during the 1989 Umno crises when he was removed from cabinet because he allegedly sided with Team B, which was then led by Umno veteran Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.
"But during the three years out on the sidelines, he didn't give up and made a comeback before he was re-appointed into the cabinet as a Foreign Minister."
Azizi said that Pak Lah's "Mr Nice Guy," demeanour meant his politics was of making more friends than foes - he disliked confrontational politics.
It was Pak Lah, who also became the first Umno leader to cultivate cordial ties with PAS.
The Islamist party was founded in Penang at 1951 in a home of Pak Lah's grandfather.
"Pak Lah served in the civil service before he joined politics," added Azizi. - April 15, 2025.
