SELAMAT PENGANTIN BARU, PAK LAH

Selamat Pengantin Baru, Pak Lah
I am dedicating this page for a special man: a friend ( he was once a civil servant ) a collegue, a mentor, an icon, a passionate leader..bla..bla. He is none other then our very own PM Dato,Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

I was enthralled by the 8.00 PM first Headline News over RTM1 (delivered by the News Anchor Hazleen Abd.Aziz – my daughter) that Dato’Seri our PM getting married this coming Saturday June 9, 2007 in a private and simple ceremony at Seri Perdana to be attended only by the couple siblings and close relatives. His bride-to-be is a Kuala Lumpur born Puan Jeanne Abdullah 53 (she is the late Puan Seri Endon’s Sister-In-Law married to her younger brother but the separated 15 years ago). She has 2 grown up daughters from her previous marriage - Nadiah & Nadene and Dato’Seri has 2 children Dato’Kamaruddin & Nori.

I knew Dato’Seri way back in the early Nineteen Seventies. He was then known as Abdullah Ahmad an MCS Officer, The Director Of Youth at The Ministry Of Youth & Culture. I was then a young RTM Television Producer Director. We collaborated in producing a weekly series of Talk Shows featuring Malayan youth activities with a campaign tagline: YOUTH ON THE MARCH. The program regular lineup of guest speakers has always been Abdullah Ahmad representing Ministry Youth & Culture, Rafidah Aziz (Faculti Ekonomi University Malaya), Anuar Ibrahim (ABIM), Sanusi Junid (MAYC?) and Mahadhir Mohammad (The Politician). Of course there other guest speakers too either from NGO are representing Youth Movements, or Government Officers and others.

Later Abdullah Ahmad, Rafidah Aziz, Sanusi Junid and Anuar Ibrahim become Yang Berhormat.
On the political scene Abdullah Ahmad then known as Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. The reason for the change I was told; there is another well known personality with the same name (Abdullah Ahmad) in the administration of the late Tun Razak Hussein, our 2nd PM. As the saying goes: In politic no two similar name to share the same spotlight. According to a colleague in RTM Osman Fauzi; Abdullah was advised to include his father’s full name Ahmad Badawi (then a veteran politician and an ulamak).

So for his political career it’s the resounding name of Dato’Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi that Malaysians from all walks of lives remember as one of the country’s all time outstanding leader, now their 5th Prime Minister. For whoever he is, and what ever position he holds he is still the Abdullah Ahmad you know some 30 or 40 years ago. A kind and passionate man, full of smiles and ever willing to acknowledge you, whoever or where ever you are.

My personal advice, if you happen to know him before, please don’t ever try to shunt away from him, for if he notices you, he would break protocol to meet you, shake your hand and say hello. He is fond of giving you (men) a naught on your overgrown belly while joking he would whisper to you, ‘take care, you belly has overgrown.’

Mind you a PM breaks protocol to greet you and whisper on your oversize belly. It caused heads turned.
That is Dato’Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi that I know. He is so simple and down to earth. It can cause you an embarrassment if you happen to shunt away from him in any function. So please if you happen to cross path with this PM discard your inferior feelings not wanting (malu) to meet him…because he remembers you……

So that is Dato’Seri Ahmad Badawi our beloved Prime Minister.
For him and his bride to be, his children and grand children the very best of luck.
Samoga Allah Cucuri RahmatNya.
Amin.