A Great Loss to the Nation
On the night of 14th April, when we received the news regarding Malaysia’s former Prime Minister YAB Tun Abdullah Hj Ahmad Badawi’s, or more fondly known as Pak Lah’s passing, our family were deeply saddened with the loss of Malaysia’s very kind and truly compassionate leader.
As rakyat we have very happy memories of Malaysia under Malaysia’s 5th Prime Minister’s leadership guided by kindness, care and compassion to the rakyat as well as political leaders both in Government as well as opposition.
A case in point, we were pleasantly surprise when we saw the unexpected but kind gesture reported in the news of Pak Lah requesting his son in law Khairy Jamaluddin to deliver the passport to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim offering a new chapter for DSAI
We felt happy and safe under such as caring Prime Minister and his new administration
Malaysia’s Chief Architect on Innovation- Placing Innovation at the Heart of Government Planning and Strategy
YAB Tun Abdullah Hj Ahmad Badawi was instrumental in putting/placing Innovation at the heart of the Malaysian’s Government planning and strategy.
1)MOSTE restructured to MOSTI
Serving as Malaysia's fifth Prime Minister from October 2003 to April 2009, the Government under Pak Lah had restructured the previous Ministry of Science , Technology and the Environment (MOSTE) to Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) and Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (NRE) on 27 March 2004 ( Fig 1)
2)Introduction of a National Innovation Council (NIC)
Malaysia’s first National Innovation Council (NIC) was subsequently launched. During the meeting to discuss on the establishment of a National Science, Technology and Innovation Council (NSTI Council), I had advocated on the need for the NSTI Council to be just NIC as Innovation should be promoted across all sectors and ministries and not limited to just science and technology.
I was honoured this recommendation was accepted and the National Innovation Council launched
World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF)
Recognizing the success of the World Economic Forum(WEF) in gathering World leaders to discuss and identify key economic strategies and plans, Tun Abdullah was instrumental in the formation of the World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) an initiative aimed at enhancing economic cooperation among Muslim countries and exploring opportunities for greater collaboration within the Islamic world and Tun was its Founding patron.
Books on Innovation
Spurred by Pak Lah’s commitment to further promote innovation, I had written two books on Innovation; Technological Innovation and Women in Innovation -The UK Experience
I am deeply grateful to Tun Abdullah for writing a message in this book as well as for launching the books at the 10th World Islamic Economic Forum in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in 2013 ( Fig 2 - Fig 6)
Fig 2: YAB Tun Abdullah Hj Ahmad Badawi delivering Keynote Address at Technological Innovation Book Launch at 10th WIEF, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Fig 3 Ms Sheriffah's Welcome Address at Innovation Book Launch at 10th WIEF
Fig 4: YAB Tun Abdullah signing at Innovation Book Launch in Dubai, UAE
Fig 5: YAB Tun Abdullah and Tun Jeanne with the Technological Innovation and Innovation & Women- The UK Experience Books at the Launch in Dubai, UAE
Fig 6:The Technological Innovation Book and CD format of the Women in Innovation-The UK Experience Book laucnhed in Dubai, UAE
Tun's Remark that will always be remembered
I was especially honoured when during Tun’s Keynote Address at this launch Tun had turned to me and remarked “ Sheriffah I am proud of your good work in sharing your experience in Innovation internationally” . I shared this momentous moments with my parents and confided that I will always remember Tun’s kind words of encouragement for my work on Innovation. I will never will forget this moment of kindness and great support from Tun.
Innovation in Other Sectors
Spurred by Tun’s continuous commitment for Malaysia to accelerate progress in innovation, I am now finalizing three books on Innovation.
Innovation in the Construction Industry arises from my role as Panel for CIDB’s MCIEA’s Award on Innovation, Innovation in Financing Nuclear Power which I had presented at the Asia Pacific Nuclear Energy 2023 (APNE2023) which had received commendations from speakers as well as participants including Charles Oppenheimer, Founder Project Oppenheimer and grandson of Robert Oppenheimer, Father of the Atomic Bomb ( Fig 7)
Fig 7: Ms Sheriffah with Charles Oppenheimer at the Asia Pacific Nuclear Energy 2023 (APNE2023)
My third book is on Innovation in the Judiciary, is a book co-authored with my father Dato Syed Ahmad Idid, a former High Court Judge, who also was very kindly offered by Tun Abdullah to start new chapter in his career as Director of the Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration (KLRCA) during Tun’s Administration.
Tun Abdullah, we are indeed extremely grateful for your kindness and compassion for my family and words cannot truly express our heartfelt appreciation.
May Allah SWT shower His mercy upon Tun Abdullah's soul and place him among the faithful and righteous Al Fatihah.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to Tun Jeanne Abdullah and family of the late Tun Abdullah and may ALLAH bestow upon them the strength and solace during this period of sorrow.
Recommendation to the Government of Malaysia
In Recognition of the Critical Role of Tun Abdullah in advancing Innovation in and for Malaysia,
I would like to propose to the Government of Malaysia, under the leadership of YAB Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to please establish a Tun Abdullah Hj Badawi Academy of Innovation inviting international and national renown leaders and practitioners in Innovation to share their insights, views and experience in innovation with Malaysian politicians, policy and decision makers, professionals, students as well as the general public to enhance and accelerate Malaysia’s Innovation Plans and Agenda
I will be happy to work with the Government to make this a reality for the benefit of Malaysia and Malaysians.
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