Najib Razak

Najib Razak
Government of Malaysia · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Najib Razak
Birth date	1953-07-23
Birth place	Kuala Lipis, Pahang, Malaya
Office	6th Prime Minister of Malaysia
Term start	2009
Term end	2018
Predecessor	Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Successor	Mahathir Mohamad
Party	United Malays National Organisation
Alma mater	University of Nottingham

Najib Razak is a Malaysian politician who served as the sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia from 2009 to 2018. He was a long-serving member of United Malays National Organisation and held several ministerial portfolios including Minister of Defence, Minister of Finance, and Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia. His premiership was marked by economic initiatives, regional diplomacy in ASEAN, and ultimately by controversies culminating in high-profile legal proceedings related to a state investment fund.

Early life and education

Born in Kuala Lipis, Pahang, Najib is the son of Abdul Razak Hussein, Malaysia's second Prime Minister, and Hajah Rahah Mohammad Noah. His family connections extended to the Royal Family of Pahang and influential figures in United Malays National Organisation. He attended Kolej Melayu Kuala Kangsar (Malay College Kuala Kangsar) and completed pre-university studies in Newcastle upon Tyne at King Edward VI Grammar School. He earned a degree in industrial economics from the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom. Early links with United Malays National Organisation and the Barisan Nasional coalition set the stage for his entry into Malaysian national politics.

Political career

Najib entered elective politics as member of parliament for Kuala Lipis in 1986, and later represented Pekan after succeeding his father. He served in cabinets under Prime Ministers Mahathir Mohamad and Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, holding portfolios including Minister of Defence (1990–1995), Minister of Education (1995–1999), Minister of Finance (as Acting and later substantive), and Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia (2004–2009). Domestically, he engaged with economic and anti-corruption bodies, and internationally he participated in forums such as Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and Commonwealth of Nations meetings. Within United Malays National Organisation, he was implicated in party factionalism involving figures like Muhyiddin Yassin and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, and he worked to consolidate control over party machinery ahead of his elevation to the premiership.

Prime Ministership (2009–2018)

Upon succeeding Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2009, Najib chaired cabinets addressing the Global Financial Crisis aftermath, promoting the Economic Transformation Programme and initiatives linked to 1Malaysia branding. His administration pursued projects involving PETRONAS, infrastructure schemes such as the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit, and investments with partners from China and Japan. In foreign policy, he deepened engagement with ASEAN, strengthened ties with the United States and European Union, and took part in negotiations over regional security with United Nations agencies. His term also saw tensions with opposition coalitions like Pakatan Rakyat and later Pakatan Harapan, and electoral challenges during the 2013 general election and local protests linked to electoral reform advocates including Bersih.

1MDB scandal and legal proceedings

A central controversy of Najib's later career concerned the state investment fund 1MDB, a strategic development company established during his administration. Allegations emerged involving transfers from 1MDB accounts to private accounts and transactions tied to international banks including Goldman Sachs. Investigations were conducted by authorities in jurisdictions including United States, Switzerland, and Singapore; media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times reported extensively. The scandal prompted scrutiny from anti-graft bodies like Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and led to prosecutions after the 2018 change of government when Pakatan Harapan formed a new cabinet under Mahathir Mohamad. Najib faced multiple charges including corruption, money laundering, and abuse of power tied to funds allegedly misappropriated from 1MDB. Court proceedings culminated in convictions in several trials, appeals to Malaysia's judicial hierarchy, and sentences that prompted debates involving international legal cooperation with entities such as the FBI and courts in New York.

Personal life and legacy

Najib is married to Rosmah Mansor and has children; members of his extended family include personalities associated with Pahang politics and business. His premiership is evaluated in contrast to predecessors Abdul Razak Hussein and Mahathir Mohamad, and contemporaries like Muhyiddin Yassin and Anwar Ibrahim. Supporters credit initiatives such as the ETP and infrastructure accomplishments, while critics emphasize the 1MDB revelations and governance concerns cited by international organizations including Transparency International and media investigations by outlets like The Wall Street Journal and Sarawak Report. Najib's legacy continues to influence discourse in Malaysian politics, party realignment within Barisan Nasional, and reforms pursued by succeeding administrations.

Category:Prime Ministers of Malaysia Category:Malaysian politicians Category:1953 births Category:Living people