Najib Razak

Dato' Sri Haji Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak is the sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia. He worked as a Prime Minister of Malaysia from 2009 to 2018. He is the former President of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the leading party in Malaysia's Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.

Najib is the eldest son of Malaysia's second Prime Minister Abdul Razak Hussein. He was elected to the Parliament of Malaysia at the age of 23, in 1976.

Najib Razak's Early Life And Education

Najib Razak was born on 23rd July 1953, in Kuala Lipis, Pahang. He is eldest of Malaysian 2nd Prime Minister Abdul Razak's six children, and also known as the nephew of Hussein Onn, 3rd Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Razak's younger brother, Dato' Seri Mohd Nazir Abdul Razak, currently runs the country's second-largest lender, Bumiputra-Commerce Holdings Bhd.

Najib Razak attended St. John's Institution, Kuala Lumpur. After completing his primary and secondary education, Razak enrolled at Malvern College in Worcestershire, England, and simultaneously went to the University of Nottingham, graduating with a bachelor's degree in industrial economics in 1974.

Najib Razak's Early Career

Election to Parliament and Menteri Besar of Pahang

In 1976, Najib Razak was selected to run for the seat in parliament, left vacant due to his father's death. The people's respect for his father and the national outpouring of grief following Tun Razak's death helped him to win the election at his young age of twenty-three. In the year 1986 Razak won re-election to the same seat.

Najib Razak was the first man to be a s signed into the Cabinet of Malaysia at the age of twenty-five, appointed as Deputy Minister of Energy, Telecommunications, and Post in 1978, making him the youngest deputy minister.

He also worked as the Menteri Besar of Pahang from 1982 to 1986, being the youngest Menteri Besar in the state to enter office when he just reached twenty-nine. In 1986, Razak was chosen as Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports in the Cabinet of Mahathir Mohamad.

UMNO Politics

In 1976, Najib Razzak was appointed as the head of UMNO Youth's Pekan branch and later became a member of UMNO Executive Council.  He was then selected as a member of UMNO's Supreme Council in 1981 before he won the post of Vice-President of UMNO Youth in 1982.

In 1987, Razak was chosen as the acting head of the Movement of UMNO Youth by Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim after Ibrahim was requested to contest the post of UMNO Vice-President. Following mounting ethnic tensions anti-Chinese sentiments were expressed at a UMNO Youth rally held in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur the same year where Najib spoke. The increasing pressure resulted in fear of ethnic violence and ended up in a security operation known as Operasi Lalang, which included numerous administrative detentions.

In 2009 June, Razak overturned a rule that needed 30% Malay ownership in corporations, also allowed non-ethnic Malays, like Indians and Chinese to improve their financial condition of the country.

He then worked to develop a relationship with Singapore. By 1993, Razak was selected as one of the six-vice presidents of UMNO in response to Anwar's decision to contest as the deputy president of UMNO.

He kept on defending his post in party elections held in 1993, 1996, and 2004.

Najib Razak's Senior Ministerial Career

Minister Of Defence

In 1991, Razak got appointed as Minister of Defence by Mahathir. Under his direction, Malaysian troops were used to a s sist the UN peacekeeping forces in Bosnia in 1993. Malaysian soldiers were warmly welcomed by Bosnians as well as Croats and Serbs.

Malaysian also helped peacekeeping operations in Somalia in 1993, losing one soldier while helping aid to soldiers during the Battle of Mogadishu.

Minister Of Education

In 1995, Razak left the post of Defence Ministry for the first time when chosen as Minister of Education. His biggest challenge was to respond to Malaysia's newly proclaimed aspiration to become an entirely modern developed nation by 2020.

At the time of his five-year tenure, Razak restricted the Ministry made an independent corporate structure for public universities and collaborated with foreign institutions and universities.

During the 1999 general election, Razak faced a significant setback when he barely won re-election to the Parliament by a margin of 241 votes compared to a margin of 10,000 in the previous election.

Return As Minister Of Defence

At the time of his second administration as Minister of Defence, Razak coordinated Malaysia's relief works like during the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 and support to Indonesia in arresting those responsible for the Bali bombings.

Being a Defence Minister, Razak formed an institute for compulsory military service on 2003 December, saying that it could boost friendship and interactions between different ethnic groups, youths, and religions.

While its first five years of operation; more than 339,000 Malaysian youth took part in the PLKN, intended to promote tolerance, community engagement, and teamwork. However, the program has faced various challenges.

In 2002 the Malaysian Ministry of Defence purchased two Scorpene submarine for which The French courts are still investigating as allegations of corruption, during that time Razak was the minister of defense.

The allegations are that Abdul Razak Baginda, an aide of Najib, got commission payments from the French submarine and mistress to Baginda, simultaneously blackmailed Baginda for $ 500,000 cut and was killed. Two policemen, who served as bodyguards for Razak, were found guilty and charged.

Deputy Prime Minister

In 2004, Mahathir retired from his post and was recouped by his deputy, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. So, Razak was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister, giving him a broad portfolio of responsibilities. He also chaired more than 28 cabinet committees and remained as Minister of Defence later.

In 2008, Razak became the Minister for Finance, controlling the Defence portfolio to Badawi. At the time of the global financial pressure, Malaysia faced a big recession and reduced levels of trade throughout the South Asian region.

In return, he announced a series of stimulus packages to be followed over a two-year period with the intention of acting as a countercyclical response that could protect Malaysia.

Becoming Prime Minister

On 8 October 2008, Prime Minister Badawi announced he would step down in March 2009, supporting for Razak to succeed him. However, he said the onus was on Razak to win the party election set for March before he could take over.

On 26 March 2009, Razak won the UMNO presidency unopposed. He was chosen as Prime Minister of Malaysia on 3rd April 2009.

Prime Minister

Najib Razak entered office as Prime Minister focusing on domestic economic issues and political reform.

On his first day as P.M. Razak announced his first actions, the removal of bans on two opposition newspapers, Harkahdaily and Suara Keadilan, which was run by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim-led People's Justice Party and the Pan Islamic Party, and opposition leader as well.

1Malaysia

1Malaysia is an ongoing campaign announced by the Prime Minister Najib Razak on 16th September 2008, government agencies, calling for the cabinet, and civil servants to emphasize ethnic harmony, efficient governance, and national unity.

The eight values of 1Malaysia as expressed are perseverance, acceptance, education, loyalty, integrity, a culture of excellence, and meritocracy.

BR1M Project

The first BR1M Project was a scheme devised by Najib Razak to help and support poor Malaysians. 500.00 Ringgit Malaysia was given to households with an income of less than RM 3000 per month.

The second BR1M Project also called BR1m 2.0 launched on 2013 Feb, and more than 2.5 million ringgit was distributed to Malaysians nationwide, to make a change in 5.7 million households all over the country.

National Security Council Bill 2015

In 2015, December, the National Security Council Bill 2015 was pa s sed in Parliament after a marathon six-hour debate. The bill gave the Prime Minister of Malaysia with unprecedented powers, such as the ability to define what constitutes a security issue as well as deem any part of Malaysia a security area.

Later the bill was criticized by rights groups as inviting government abuse. The government has defended the bill, along with cabinet minister Shahidan Ka s sim saying the law is must to enable better coordination and a uniform response in an event country faced with security threats.

Najib Razak's Economic policy

New Economic Model

On 2nd May 2009, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak announced the government's plan to improve a New Economic Model to speed up Malaysia's transition to a high-income nation.

The plan will also emphasize ways to increase the productivity and income of workers by encouraging for investment from overseas and knowledge industries.

Reform Of Government Subsidies

Razak began to implement a comprehensive reform of government subsidies. On 16 July 2010 subsidies for LPG, diesel, and petrol were cut as part of Malaysia's general program of reducing and rationalizing subsidies per the 10th Malaysia Plan and the New Economic Model.

The Prime Minister also expressed his hopes regarding that Malaysia would have a healthier living. He said, ''there is no logic in the government allocating subsidies worth almost Rm1 billion on a commodity that could endanger people's health.

Economic Liberalisation

Malaysia has also implemented substantial measures to in order to attract foreign investments which includes moderation of preferences designed to benefit ethnic Malays.

Especially, these reforms include allowing foreign investors to hold majority stakes in various enterprises excluding industries such as telecommunications, banking, and energy.

Since these reforms have been followed, the American banking firms Goldman and Citigroup have authority to expand and conduct their operation in Malaysia.

Foreign Policy And State Visits

Palestine

The government of Malaysia has always been a strong supporter of the Palestinian as they are against the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. Malaysia also supports unity between the Palestinian Hamas and Fatah factions.

United States

Najib Razak visited the United States in September 2017, after President Donald Trump invited him. Both of them made their Comprehensive Partnership stronger which was established in 2014.

Razak and the former President of the United States Barack Obama met just before the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington on 12 April 2010.

India

Razak also traveled to India on a five-day state visit in 2010 Jan. He had 200 special guests for welcome including deputy ministers, state government officials, prominent business leaders and members of parliament.

Singapore

Razak also made a two-day visit to Singapore on 21-22nd May 2009. At the time of the tour, with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Razak agreed to establish their relationship in a more good manner to solve the ''legacy'' problems between both countries.

South Korea

Razak attended ASEAN-South Korea Summit on 1st June 2009 hosted by South Korean President Lee Myung Bak. At the time of the Summit, the ASEAN Korean Investment Agreement was signed to speed up economic and trade relations between South Korea and ASEAN after the summit.

China

From 2-5th June 2009, Razak made a four-day visit to China. During that time, he mentioned his family's special bond with China, saying that his father, Malaysia's second Prime Minister, first firmed diplomatic relation with China in 1974.

Najib Razak's Net Worth

Najib Razak's total net worth is estimated to be RM 2.6 billion. He earns a huge amount of money as he is the Prime Minister of Malaysia, prior to his previous works in various posts like Minister of Defence, Minister of Education, Deputy Prime Minister. 

Najib Razak's Personal Life

Najib Razak is an avid golf lover and he is known to have played golf with the two most recent U.S. Presidents – Barack Obama and Donald Trump.

Najib Razak is a married man and has five children. He is married to Rosmah Mansor in 1987. He and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor has two children with her: Nooryana Najwa Najib and Mohd Norashman Najib. Rosmah also has two children from her previous marriage.

He was married to his longtime girlfriend, Tengku Puteri Zainah Tengku Eskandar in 1976. They shared three children, Puteri Norlisa Najib, Mohd Nazifuddin Najib, and Mohd Nizar Najib. The pair divorced in 1987.

Najib Razak and his second wife, Rosmah reside with their children. His daughter Nooryana is married to the nephew of Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev.

Age, Body Measurements and Other facts

• Age: Najib Razak is 65 years old as of 2019. 
• Birth Sign: Leo
• Height: Najib Razak has a tall height of 5 feet 10 inches(178cm).
• Weight: He has a bodyweight of around 75kg(165.35 Ibs).