Wikipedia

Abdul Razak Hussein

Abdul Razak bin Hussein (Jawi: عبد الرزاق بن حسين; 11 March 1922 – 14 January 1976) was a Malaysian lawyer and politician who served as the second prime minister of Malaysia from 1970 until his death in 1976. He also served as the first deputy prime minister of Malaysia from 1957 to 1970. He is referred to as the "Father of Development" ("Bapa Pembangunan") of Malaysia.

Yang Amat Berbahagia Tun
Abdul Razak Hussein
DMN DK I (Pahang) DK (Kelantan) SMN DUK SIMP SPMJ SPMK SPMS SPMP SPCM DUPN SPDK SPMT DP SPMP SPMB DPMB GCMG
عبد الرزاق حسين‎
Abdul Razak at Soestdijk Palace, 1968.
2nd Prime Minister of Malaysia
In office
22 September 1970 – 14 January 1976
Monarchs
Deputy
Preceded byTunku Abdul Rahman
Succeeded byHussein Onn
President of UMNO
In office
25 January 1971 – 14 January 1976
Preceded byTunku Abdul Rahman
Succeeded byHussein Onn
Ministerial portfolios
Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia
In office
31 August 1957 – 22 September 1970
Monarchs
  • Abdul Rahman
  • Hisamuddin
  • Putra
  • Ismail Nasiruddin
  • Abdul Halim
Prime Minister
Tunku Abdul Rahman
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byIsmail Abdul Rahman
Menteri Besar of Pahang
In office
1 February 1955 – 15 June 1955
MonarchAbu Bakar
Preceded byTengku Muhamad Sultan Ahmad
Succeeded byTengku Muhamad Sultan Ahmad
Minister
1955–1957Education
1957–1970Defence
1957–1970National and Rural Development
1967–1969Home Affairs
1970–1975Foreign Affairs
1974Finance
1974–1976Defence
Parliamentary offices
Member of Parliament
for Pekan
In office
11 September 1959 – 14 January 1976[a]
Preceded byConstituency created
Succeeded byNajib Razak
Political positions
1950–1951Leader of UMNO Youth
1970–1973Leader of Alliance Party
1973–1976Chairman of Barisan Nasional
Personal details
BornAbdul Razak bin Hussein
(1922-03-11)11 March 1922
Pekan, Pahang, Federated Malay States
Died14 January 1976(1976-01-14) (aged 53)
London, England
Resting placeMakam Pahlawan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Party
Other political
affiliations
Spouse
​
(m. 1952)​
Children5 (including Najib and Nazir)
Parents
EducationMalay College Kuala Kangsar
Awards
Full list
Military service
Branch/serviceAskar Wataniah Pahang
Years of service
1941–1945
RankCaptain
UnitForce 136
Battles/warsWorld War II

During his term as prime minister, Abdul Razak launched the Malaysian New Economic Policy (NEP), a program aimed at reducing the socioeconomic disparity between ethnic communities, particularly those of the ethnic Malay and Chinese.[1] He also oversaw a realignment of Malaysia foreign policy away from his predecessor's pro-West and anti-Communist attitude and towards neutrality, with the country becoming a member of the Non-Aligned Movement in 1970. Abdul Razak was also the figure responsible for setting up Barisan Nasional (BN), a political coalition which held power uninterrupted from its inception in 1974 to 2018.[2]

His eldest son, Najib Razak, became the sixth prime minister in 2009; however, later became infamous for his involvement in the 1MDB corruption scandal, which led to his conviction on multiple charges of corruption, abuse of power, and money laundering.

Early life and education

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Born in Kampung Pulau Keladi, a village located northwest of Pekan, Pahang on 11 March 1922,[3] Abdul Razak is the first of two children to Hussein Awang bin Mohd Taib (1898–1950) and Fatimah binti Daud (1906–1968). An aristocratic descendant holding the title Orang Kaya Indera Shahbandar, Abdul Razak studied at the Malay College Kuala Kangsar.

After joining the Malay Administrative Service in 1938, he was awarded a scholarship to study at Raffles College in Singapore in 1940. His studies at the college ceased with the onset of the Second World War. During the war he helped organise the Wataniah resistance movement in Pahang.[4]

After World War II, Abdul Razak left for Britain in 1948 to study law. In 1950, he received a law degree and qualified as a barrister at Lincoln's Inn in London. During his student days in England, Abdul Razak was a member of the British Labour Party and a prominent student leader of the Malay Association of Great Britain, and formed the student association Malayan Forum.

Involvement in World War II

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After his studies were interrupted in 1942 because of World War II, Abdul Razak returned to Kuantan, Pahang. There, he met his former colleague from the Malay Administrative Service, Yeop Mahidin, and expressed his interest in joining the Malay Regiment (now Royal Malay Regiment). Mahidin, who was also the founder of Askar Wataniah Pahang ('Pahang State Territorial Army'; precursor of the Rejimen Askar Wataniah), recruited Razak into his new guerrilla force. Upon the completion of his training, Razak was instructed to join the Japanese Malayan Civil Service as an agent and informant.

Razak, as an aristocrat and son of a respected Malay leader in Pahang, was posted to his home state of Pahang as an assistant to District Officer and at the same time as a bridge for the Japanese to gain the trust of local Malays. Using his privileges as an aristocrat, Razak started networking with the Imperial Japanese Forces while maintaining his connection with Yeop Mahidin. His role as an informant inside the Japanese Administration was only known to a few. Because of this, Razak was labelled as a traitor by the rest of the Wataniah Pahang.

As the Malay population received preferential treatment compared to other ethnic groups, it was not fully trusted by the British to oppose the Japanese occupation. Nevertheless, the Askar Wataniah Pahang with its 200 members were absorbed into the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and organised under Force 136.

Force 136 Pahang's missions' continuous success made the Japanese Administration begin to suspect that there were informants inside their administration. Force 136 Pahang quickly set up an extraction mission to recover their agent, Razak, who was still unknown to many of its members.

Early political career

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Deputy Prime Minister Razak greeting New Zealand Prime Minister Walter Nash in 1960.
Deputy Prime Minister Razak with U.S. President John F. Kennedy in the White House, 1961

Upon his return from the United Kingdom, in 1950, Tun Razak joined the Malayan Civil Service.[3] Owing to his political calibre, he became the youth chief for United Malays National Organisation (UMNO). Two years later, he worked as the Assistant State Secretary of Pahang and in February 1955, at just 33 years of age, became Pahang's Chief Minister.[5]

Razak stood in and won a seat in Malaya's first general elections in July 1955 and was appointed as the Education Minister. He was instrumental in the drafting of the Razak Report which formed the basis of the Malayan education system. Tun Razak was also a key member of the February 1956 mission to London to seek the independence of Malaya from the British.[3]

He was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence in 1957 and, after the 1959 general election, also held the Ministry of National and Rural Development portfolio. His ideas concerning rural development and agriculture were collected into the Red Book (Buku Merah) and Green Book (Buku Hijau) respectively and served as the basis for government policy during his time in power.[6]

In 1965 Razak was closely involved in the negotiations with Singaporean leaders for the Independence of Singapore Agreement.[7]

Prime Minister

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Abdul Razak Hussein
22 September 1970 – 14 January 1976
MonarchsAbdul Halim
Yahya Petra
Abdul Razak Hussein
Cabinet
Party
Alliance–UMNO
(1970–1973)
BN–UMNO
(1973–1976)
Election
1974
Seri Taman
← Tunku
Hussein →

Gaining power

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In the aftermath of the ethnic riot of 1969, known as the 13 May incident, incumbent prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman was subjected to criticism from Malay nationalists within UMNO, among them supporters of Abdul Razak, for his pluralist and accommodating attitude towards the country's non-Malay population. During the state of emergency that lasted from 1969 to 1971, Tunku's power as prime minister was eroded by Abdul Razak, who led the National Operations Council that ruled in lieu of the elected government, culminating in his resignation in 1970. The official narrative of the 13 May incident and the circumstances under which Abdul Razak became prime minister are still contested by some.[8]

Domestic affairs

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The government excised Kuala Lumpur from the state of Selangor in 1974, which served to detach five opposition parliamentary seats from the Selangor legislative council, helping prevent the state from falling into the hands of opposition parties. It also kept to the previous government's decision to suspend local government elections and through a parliamentary act allowed state governments to take over local authorities and appoint members to relevant bodies.

Foreign affairs

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Bust of Tun Abdul Razak at the ASEAN Garden with the excerpt from his statement at the inauguration of ASEAN.

Abdul Razak also took up the Ministry of Foreign Affairs portfolio upon becoming prime minister and oversaw a realignment of the country's foreign policy away from the West and anti-Communism towards neutrality and non-alignment in international conflicts,[9] as well as an increased focus on regional affairs through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Malaysia joined the Non-Aligned Movement in 1970, while the Anglo-Malayan military alliance was replaced with the Five Power Defence Arrangements in 1971.[9] It also became a signatory of the Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality Declaration (ZOPFAN) in 1971 as part of ASEAN.[10]

Bilateral relations with the People's Republic of China were inaugurated with Abdul Razak's state visit and Malaysia's adoption of the One China Policy in 1974.[11][12]

Death

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Abdul Razak was diagnosed with leukemia in 1969 and given two years to live, but kept the diagnosis secret from his friends and family.[13]

Abdul Razak died in office on 14 January 1976[3][14] while seeking medical treatment in London. He was posthumously granted the soubriquet Bapa Pembangunan ('Father of Development'). He was laid to rest in Heroes Mausoleum (Malay: Makam Pahlawan) near Masjid Negara, Kuala Lumpur.[15]

Filmography

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List of films
Year Title Role Notes Link(s)
1969 The Red Book Himself Tun Abdul Razak makes his debut in the film to explain the policy of rural economic development.[16] The film was produced by Malayan Film Unit (currently FINAS).
External videos
video icon Retrospektif: The Red Book (1969) via YouTube channel by FINAS.

Election results

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Parliament of Malaysia
Year Constituency Candidate Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
1959 P062 Pekan Abdul Razak Hussein (UMNO) 8,811 77.26% Mohamed Ariff Abas (PMIP) 2,593 22.74% 11,508 6,218 74.52%
1964 Abdul Razak Hussein (UMNO) 11,858 87.39% Abdul Hamid Awang Hitam (PMIP) 1,711 12.61% 14,165 10,147 76.63%
1969 Abdul Razak Hussein (UMNO) 12,641 77.28% Yazid Jaafar (PMIP) 3,716 22.72% 16,845 8,925 71.24%
1974 P071 Pekan Abdul Razak Hussein (UMNO) Unopposed

Awards and recognitions

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Deputy Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak with US President John F. Kennedy at the White House in 1961

Titles

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  • Malaysia
    • Father of Development (Bapa Pembangunan), (posthumously)
  • Pahang
    • Yang DiHormat Orang Kaya Indera Shahbandar ke-10

Honours of Malaysia

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Foreign honours

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Namesakes

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Tun Abdul Razak Memorial in Kuala Lumpur.

Several things were named after him, including:

Jalan Tun Razak towards Bulatan Pahang in Kuala Lumpur
Tun Razak Hockey Stadium (Stadium Hoki Tun Razak) at Taman Duta in Kuala Lumpur
  • Tun Razak Hockey Stadium in Kuala Lumpur
  • SK Pusat Penyelidikan Pertanian Tun Razak, a primary school in Jerantut, Pahang
  • SMK Pusat Penyelidikan Pertanian Tun Razak, a secondary school in Jerantut, Pahang
  • Pusat Penyelidikan Pertanian Tun Razak, a scientific research base in Jerantut, Pahang
  • Tun Abdul Razak Research Centre (formerly known as British Rubber Producers' Research Association) in Brickendonbury, England
  • KD Tun Abdul Razak, a Scorpène-class submarine of the Royal Malaysian Navy
  • Tun Abdul Razak Chancellor Hall (DECTAR) at the National University of Malaysia (UKM) in Bangi, Selangor
  • Tun Abdul Razak Library (PTAR) at MARA University of Technology (UiTM), Shah Alam, Selangor
  • Tun Razak Library, a public library in Ipoh, Perak
  • MRSM Tun Abdul Razak, MARA Junior Science College in Pekan, Pahang.
  • Bandar Tun Razak, a township in Jengka, Pahang
  • Stadium Tun Abdul Razak, a stadium in Jengka Pahang
  • Sekolah Berasrama Penuh Integrasi Tun Abdul Razak (SBPITAR), an integrated boarding school in Pekan, Pahang
  • Sekolah Dato' Abdul Razak (SDAR), all-boys boarding school in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.
  • Universiti Tun Abdul Razak (UNIRAZAK), a private university in Kuala Lumpur.
  • Tun Abdul Razak Residential College, one of residential college in Universiti Malaysia Perlis
  • Dewan Tun Abdul Razak, Menara Kembar Bank Rakyat in Kuala Lumpur
  • Dewan Tun Abdul Razak, a museum exhibition gallery in Kuching, Sarawak Museum
  • Dewan Tun Abdul Razak 1 & 2, Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur
  • Dewan Kenangan Tun Abdul Razak in Baling, Kedah
  • Institut Teknologi Tun Abdul Razak in Petaling Jaya, Selangor
  • Institut Teknologi Tun Abdul Razak in Perai, Penang
  • Tun Abdul Razak Hockey Cup
  • Tun Abdul Razak Heritage Park, a public recreational park in Kuala Lumpur
  • Tun Abdul Razak Memorial, a memorial in Kuala Lumpur
  • Kem Tun Razak, a military camp in Bayan Lepas, Penang
  • Tun Razak Chair at Ohio University's Department of Southeast Asian Studies[citation needed]
  • Tun Razak Exchange
  • Tun Razak Tower in Kuala Lumpur
  • Universiti Tun Abdul Razak, formerly known as SIDMA College, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
  • Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak, a public library of UiTM Kota Kinabalu Branch
  • Kolej Tun Abdul Razak, a residential college at Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Arau, Perlis
  • Kolej Tun Abdul Razak and Kolej Toh Puan Abdul Razak, residential colleges at Universiti Teknologi MARA, Bukit Besi, Terengganu
  • Kolej Tun Abdul Razak, a residential college at Universiti Teknologi MARA, Machang, Kelantan
  • Kolej Tun Razak, a residential college at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johor
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Motion picture & television

Stage/Theatre

  • FFM nominee Rashidi Ishak portrayed Razak in 2009 local theatre production Tun Razak in Istana Budaya.

Notes

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  1. ↑ Parliament suspended between 15 May 1969 and 20 February 1971.

References

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  1. ↑ Castellino, Joshua, ed. (15 May 2017). Global Minority Rights (1 ed.). Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781315254203-12. ISBN 978-1-315-25420-3.
  2. ↑ Cheah Boon Kheng (2002). Malaysia: The Making of a Nation. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. pp. 147–. ISBN 978-981-230-175-8.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Hoiberg, Dale H., ed. (2010). "Abdul Razak bin Hussein, Tun Haji". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. I: A-ak Bayes (15th ed.). Chicago, Illinois: Encyclopædia Britannica Inc. pp. 21. ISBN 978-1-59339-837-8.
  4. ↑ "1967 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership – Tun Abdul Razak". Archived from the original on 10 October 2007. Retrieved 17 August 2007.
  5. ↑ "Dato Razak is youngest Mentri now". The Straits Times. 3 February 1955. p. 8. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  6. ↑ "Tun Abdul Razak Hussein (1970–76) Father of Development". www.malaysianbar.org.my. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  7. ↑ "25 days to a 'bloodless coup': The most complete account yet of S'pore's independence in The Albatross File". The Straits Times. 8 December 2025. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  8. ↑ "May 13, 1969: Truth and reconciliation". Malaysian Bar. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  9. 1 2 Salleh, Asri; Idris, Asmady (2021). Malaysia's United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (1960–2010). doi:10.1007/978-981-33-4137-1. ISBN 978-981-33-4136-4.
  10. ↑ "Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality Declaration" (PDF). Prime Minister's Office of Malaysia. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  11. ↑ "Have Friendly Malaysia-China Relations Gone Awry?". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  12. ↑ "Joint Statement between the People's Republic of China and Malaysia on Deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership towards China-Malaysia Community with a Shared Future". Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  13. ↑ "Tun Abdul Razak Dato' Hussein – Perdana Leadership Foundation". Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  14. ↑ "Razak is Dead - Malaysian Premier dies of leukaemia in London". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. 15 January 1976.
  15. ↑ Raman, P. M. (17 January 1976). "Tun's Last Journey Through The City". The Straits Times. p. 32. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  16. ↑ Hassan Abdul Muthalib (2013). Malaysian Cinema in a Bottle: A Century (and a Bit More) of Wayang. Merpati Jingga. p. 88. ISBN 9789670584010.
  17. ↑ "Lagi dua orang bergelar Tun". Berita Harian. 31 August 1959. p. 1.
  18. ↑ "Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1976" (PDF).
  19. ↑ Zainuddin Maidin (1997). Tun Razak: Jejak Bertapak Seorang Patriot. Kuala Lumpur: Lembaga Pemegang Amanah, Yayasan Tun Razak. p. 320. ISBN 967-61-0751-4. OCLC 38048384.
  20. ↑ "Bintang Pahang untok Sultan Johor". Berita Harian. 30 May 1967. p. 2.
  21. ↑ "Top award for Razak". The Straits Times. 5 February 1975. p. 22.
  22. ↑ "Tun: Be vigilant agamst bad elements". The Straits Times. 25 June 1971. p. 9.
  23. ↑ "21 das untok menyambut Seri Paduka di-Kangar". Berita Harian. 16 September 1965. p. 5.
  24. ↑ "SPMS 1965". awards.selangor.gov.my. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  25. ↑ "Tengku and brother head list of honours". The Straits Times. 28 October 1961. p. 7.
  26. ↑ "Anugerah Sultan kepada Tengku". Berita Harian. 26 June 1964. p. 9.
  27. ↑ "SPCM 1974". pingat.perak.gov.my. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  28. ↑ "Sultan's top award tor Razak". The Straits Times. 15 September 1974. p. 15.
  29. ↑ "Anugerah Sultan Perak kpd Tun Razak juga MB". Berita Harian. 29 August 1964. p. 2.
  30. ↑ "Belgium honours Tun and 3 Ministers". The Straits Times. 28 April 1967. p. 7.
  31. ↑ "BRUNEI SULTAN DECORATES KING, RAZAK & RAHMAN". The Straits Times. 26 April 1959. p. 7.
  32. ↑ "Brunei ruler honours 7 Malayans". Straits Budget. 1 October 1958. p. 9.
  33. ↑ "Prince Sihanouk confers Orders on 17 Malayans". NewspaperSG. 26 December 1962. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  34. ↑ "Roster of Presidential Awardees under Executive Order 236". Official Gazette. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  35. ↑ "Tun Razak di-kurnia GCMG oleh Queen". Berita Harian. 24 February 1972. p. 10.
  36. ↑ "No. 44404". The London Gazette. 8 September 1967. p. 9801.
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