Abdullah bin Ahmad Badawi, << ab dool LAH bihn AH mahd bah dah WEE >> (1939-…), was prime minister of Malaysia from 2003 to 2009. He took over the post upon the resignation of Mahathir bin Mohamad. Abdullah had served as deputy prime minister under Mahathir. Abdullah was a member of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), Malaysia’s most powerful political party. Although he won a second term as prime minister in 2008, he lost support after he failed to deliver on campaign promises to end government corruption and ease long-standing ethnic tensions. Abdullah stepped down in April 2009 and was succeeded by his deputy, Najib Razak.
Abdullah was born on Nov. 26, 1939, in Kepala Batas in the state of Penang. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Islamic studies from the University of Malaya in 1964. That same year, he began working for the Malaysian civil service. In 1965, he joined the UMNO. In 1974, he was named deputy secretary-general of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.
Abdullah was first elected to the Malaysian Parliament in 1978. He served as minister of education from 1984 to 1986, minister of defense from 1986 to 1987, and minister of foreign affairs from 1991 to 1999. In 1999, he became deputy prime minister and minister of home affairs.
