Kuala Lampur, April 25 -- Former (fifth) Prime Minister of Malaysia (2003-2009) Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi - affectionately known as "Pak Lah" - was a gentle and soft-spoken man but led his nation with strength, dignity, humility, and a deep sense of moral responsibility.

His legacy endures not only in public policy but in the quiet power of his presence, his character, and his humanity.

Tun Abdullah governed Malaysia during a time of transition and promise.

His tenure was marked by a gentler, more inclusive form of leadership - one that offered a striking contrast to the hard politics we see today.

He articulated a vision of Islam Hadhari, a forward-looking and inclusive philosophy that emphasised knowledge, economic progress, social ...