Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim praised Abdullah's achievements.
“Pak Lah taught us the meaning of humanity in leadership,” he said in an article on Facebook, adding that the former Prime Minister was not only a leader, but also a person with a “big heart”.
Anwar noted that Abdullah has always been the soothing presence in the middle of the tumult of politics, and always courtesy even when they were in opposite camps.
“It is how great the soul of a great statesman is,” he said.
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong expressed condolences to the people of Malaysia.
“During his six years as Prime Minister, Tun Abdullah made an important contribution to the social and economic development of Malaysia,” said Wong, adding that Abdullah was a respected leader who helped ASEAN “standing in the world”.
Wong said Singapore was “lucky to count Tun Abdullah as ani”.
“By working with him, we have deepened cooperation in the fields of mutual interest, such as the development of Iskandar Malaysia, and have made good progress on bilateral issues.
“It made the solid foundations for the excellent links of our countries today.”
Pak Lah
Abdullah was born in Penang in 1939. He was the eldest child of four children from Khailan Hassan and Ahmad Badawi, a eminent religious and political figure of the National Organization of Malays (Umno).
Abdullah, an academic in Islamic studies at the University of Malaysia, began his career as a diplomatic and civil servant officer in 1964. The following year, he married Eton Mahmood with whom he had two children.
He entered politics in 1966, but played a more active role in Umno after the death of his father in 1977.
In 1978, he presented himself for a parliamentary seat in the district of Kepala Batas in his country of origin and won the majority of 5,029 votes.
Three years later, he was appointed to the office under Mahathir, as minister in the department of the Prime Minister.
He would continue to occupy several other cabinet roles under Mahathir. Abdullah was appointed deputy in 1999, following the shock eviction of the previous deputy of Mahathir, Anwar, who in 1998 was accused of corruption and sodomy. Critics say the accusations were politically motivated.
In 2003, Mahathir resigned and Abdullah, his handpicked successor, became the fifth Prime Minister of Malaysia.
In the general elections held the following year, Abdullah received wide support, campaigning on a wish to attack poverty and eliminating the cronyism and corruption which had one day the long mandate of Mahathir.
He also married a moderate version of Islam which aimed at economic and technological progress in relation to religious fundamentalism. But he was criticized by the public for his examination of fuel grants which have experienced a sharp increase in prices.
