Abdul Razak Hussein

Abdul Razak bin Hussein (; 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.

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. 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.

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 Born in Kampung Pulau Keladi, a village located northwest of Pekan, Pahang on 11 March 1922, 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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

Prime Minister

Gaining power 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.

Domestic affairs 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

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, 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.

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.

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

Abdul Razak died in office on 14 January 1976 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 near Masjid Negara, Kuala Lumpur.

Filmography + YearTitleRole 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. The film was produced by Malayan Film Unit (currently FINAS).

Election results

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

Titles

Father of Development (Bapa Pembangunan), (posthumously)

Yang DiHormat Orang Kaya Indera Shahbandar ke-10

Honours of Malaysia

50px Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Kelantan (SPMK) – Dato'

Foreign honours

Namesakes

Several things were named after him, including: Tun Razak Highway (Federal Route 12 connecting Segamat, Johor to Gambang, Pahang)

Jalan Tun Razak in Kuala Lumpur (part of Kuala Lumpur Middle Ring Road 1) Jalan Tun Abdul Razak in Johor Bahru (part of Skudai Highway) Jalan Tun Abdul Razak in Ipoh (also known as Maxwell Road) Jalan Tun Abdul Razak in Malacca City (street name for Malacca Bypass) Jalan Tun Razak in Kota Kinabalu Jalan Tun Abdul Razak in Gowa, Sulawesi Selatan, Indonesia (known as Jalan Hertasning Baru and Jalan Aroepala) Jalan Tun Razak in Putrajaya Taman Tun Abdul Razak also known as Taman TAR (a residential area in Ampang Jaya, Selangor) Desa Tun Razak, a small township in the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur Bandar Tun Razak in Kuala Lumpur Bandar Tun Razak LRT station Parliamentary constituency of Bandar Tun Razak Bandar Tun Razak, Jengka in Pahang Bandar Tun Abdul Razak, Rompin, Pahang Komtar Tower in George Town, Penang Komtar JBCC in Johor Bahru, Johor Komtar Skywalk in George Town, Penang SK Tun Abdul Razak, a primary school in Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor Kampung Tun Abdul Razak, a township in Kuala Kubu Bharu Surau Desa Tun Abdul Razak, a prayer hall in Desa Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur Surau Rumah Keluarga Angkatan Tentera Tun Abdul Razak, a prayer hall for Malaysians veteran army in Desa Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur Institut Penyiaran dan Penerangan Tun Abdul Razak, a government broadcasting office in Taman Bukit Angkasa, Kuala Lumpur Dewan Terbuka Tun Abdul Razak, a community hall centre in Labu, Negeri Sembilan Jalan Tun Abdul Razak, a major road in Kangar, Perlis Masjid Tun Abdul Razak Repoh, a mosque in Kangar, Perlis Jalan Tun Abdul Razak, a major road in Johor Bahru, Johor Jalan Tun Razak, a major road in Alor Setar, Kedah Kampung Tun Abdul Razak and Kampung Tun Rahah, a township in honour of Tun Razak and her spouse, Tun Rahah in Bukit Katil, Melaka Auditorium Tun Abdul Razak in Balok, Pahang

Rumah Kelahiran Tun Abdul Razak, a museum of his hometown house in Pekan, Pahang Chanselori Tun Abdul Razak, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Rumah Penyayang Tun Abdul Razak, a nursing home in Pekan, Pahang Sekolah Berasrama Penuh Integrasi, a fully integrated boarding school in Pekan, Pahang Jalan Tun Razak, a road in Kuala Kangsar, Perak Auditorium Tun Razak, Jalan Kolej Melayu, Kuala Kangsar SMK Tun Abdul Razak, a secondary school in Selekoh, Perak Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tun Abdul Razak, a secondary school in Kuching, Sarawak Tun Abdul Razak Stadium in Bandar Tun Razak, Jengka, Pahang

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 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 (InSTAR), 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 Tun Razak Exchange Tun Razak Exchange MRT station in Kuala Lumpur 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

In popular culture Motion picture & television Malaysian actor Naa Murad N played in 2007 film 1957: Hati Malaya FFM Award Winning actor Rusdi Ramli portrayed Razak in 2013 film Tanda Putera and won his second FFM for Best Leading Actor. Malaysian actor Abdul Manan Sulaiman in 2015 film, Kapsul Stage/Theatre FFM nominee Rashidi Ishak portrayed Razak in 2009 local theatre production Tun Razak in Istana Budaya.