THE renaming of Maktab Rendah Sains MARA (MRSM) Kepala Batas as MRSM Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has been hailed by the late former prime minister’s family as a profound honour and tribute to his enduring legacy.
Speaking during the official naming ceremony on Monday, Tun Abdullah’s son, Tan Sri Kamaluddin, described the recognition as especially meaningful, given that Kepala Batas was not only his father’s parliamentary constituency but also the place where he was raised, shaped, and ultimately laid to rest.
“It is an even more meaningful honour because this declaration was made here in Kepala Batas, a place so close to Pak Lah’s heart. He was brought up here, educated here, and it is where our father, mother and grandparents are buried. He was also honoured to serve the people here as their elected representative for more than three decades,” Kamaluddin said.
“On behalf of Tun Abdullah’s family, I express our heartfelt thanks to everyone, especially the Government of Malaysia, the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim), Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, all national leaders and the people of Kepala Batas, for this tribute,” he added.
The ceremony was officiated by Ahmad Zahid in his capacity as Minister of Rural and Regional Development and attended by MARA Chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Khair Razman Mohamed Annuar and Penang Deputy Chief Minister I, Datuk Dr Mohamad Abdul Hamid.
Visibly emotional, Kamaluddin admitted it was difficult to speak publicly while still grieving the recent loss of his father.
“It’s not easy to stand and speak before others as a son still in mourning. The wound is still fresh and has not healed, as we continue to feel the absence of our father who has left us forever. I apologise if I appeared overcome during my speech,” he said.
He also shared that the family had been touched by the outpouring of condolences since Tun Abdullah’s passing, many of which highlighted his patience, warmth, and inclusive nature.
“He was a man who treated everyone with respect—be it a statesman or a simple fisherman or farmer. He never made distinctions,” Kamaluddin said.
To understand his father’s essence, Kamaluddin urged Malaysians to reflect on Tun Abdullah’s well-known poem *Mencari Damai Abadi* (*In Search of Eternal Peace*), which he described as a philosophical legacy far more meaningful than monuments or physical infrastructure.
“That poem reflects his way of life—one guided by faith in Allah. It offers timeless lessons and a moral compass for our lives, even beyond this world,” he said.
Tun Abdullah, fondly known as Pak Lah, passed away on 14 April at the National Heart Institute and was laid to rest with full state honours at the Makam Pahlawan in Masjid Negara, Kuala Lumpur. - May 12, 2025
