Umno to set up leadership institute named after Abdullah Badawi

A leadership institute named after Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who passed away last month, has been proposed to be established as a training and research centre for politics under Umno.

Party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the proposal will be brought to the Umno supreme working council meeting next month as part of efforts to strengthen the study and documentation of the political journey and thoughts of the fifth prime minister.

"We will establish this as an institute, not only for training, but also to serve as a research centre for Umno," he told reporters after officiating the launch of the Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) in Kepala Batas today.

Also present were Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Mohamad Abdul Hamid, Bertam assemblyperson Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Mara Council chairperson Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, and Abdullah's son Kamaluddin.

Zahid said that the institute will also become an important reference source for researchers and historians, especially with Umno’s 80th anniversary next year.

"There is a research unit, but we will expand it so that it can serve as a reference material for researchers and historians of Umno’s struggle," the deputy prime minister added.

In addition to renaming Kepala Batas MRSM to Abdullah Ahmad Badawi MRSM, Zahid also instructed the MRSM management to organise a special seminar this month to discuss the thoughts and political career journey of Abdullah, who was dubbed the Father of Human Capital Development.

He stated that the seminar will explore the ideology and contributions of Abdullah during his tenure as an administrative and diplomatic officer, director-general of the Youth and Sports Department, up to the positions of deputy prime minister and prime minister.

Zahid said the seminar will bring together intellectuals, historians, and professionals.

- Bernama

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