Najib wants to take late father’s struggles to higher level

(Bernama) – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the struggles of his late father, former prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, in developing Felda and rural areas should be taken to a higher level.

He said the spirit of the struggles was to make Malaysia become a more successful and outstanding country in the future.

“Apart from the legacy left behind by Tun Abdul Razak, the most important was his struggle to produce a Malay middle-class and change the fate of the Malay community in the past,” he said.

Najib was speaking at a tahlil ceremony to commemorate the passing of Tun Abdul Razak who was the country’s second prime minister, 38 years ago, at Ar Rahah Mosque in Pantai Dalam here yesterday.

Also present at the ceremony were Najib’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, his mother, Tun Rahah Mohamad Noah, the prime minister’s family members and Felda chairman Tan Sri Isa Abdul Samad.

The ceremony, organised by Felda, was also attended by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Melaka Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, as well as 1,000 people, including Felda settlers from throughout the country.

The ceremony began with Maghrib prayers presided by Mohammad Akmal Abdul Aziz, followed by a yassin and tahlil prayer session led by Kampung Baru Mosque imam, Abdul Ahad Abu Bakar.

The event later proceeded with Isyak prayers and a bacaan selawat for the Prophet, followed by dinner.

In his speech, Mohd Isa said: “Felda and Tun Abdul Razak can never be separated as Tun Abdul Razak was its founder.”

The tahlil session was also held at all Felda mosques nationwide and it was an annual event, he said.

Tun Abdul Razak passed away in London on Jan 14, 1976, of leukemia.