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Malaysia - Head of Government

The Hon Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Prime Minister

The Hon Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is serving his second term in office as Prime Minister of Malaysia following his re-election in March 2004. He is concurrently the Minister of Finance and Internal Security. Mr Abdullah is also Chairperson of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.

He was appointed as the country’s fifth Prime Minister on 31 October 2003 after serving as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs from January 1999 to October 2003.

Mr Abdullah was elected Deputy President of the United Malay National Organisation (UMNO) in 2000 after serving as Vice-President from 1984 to 2000.

He was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1991 to 1999; Minister of Defence from 1986 to 1987; Minister of Education from 1984 to 1986; Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department from 1981 to 1984; Deputy Federal Territory Minister from 1980 to 1981.

Mr Abdullah became a member of the UMNO’s Supreme Council in 1981. He was elected to Parliament in 1978 and served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Federal Territory Ministry from 1978 to 1980.

Before entering politics, Mr Abdullah was Deputy Secretary-General in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports in 1974 after serving as Director-General from 1971 to 1973. Mr Abdullah began his civil service career as Assistant Secretary in the Public Service Department in 1964.

He has a Bachelor’s degree in Islamic Studies from the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur.

Mr Abdullah was born on 26 November 1939 in Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia.