PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is no stranger to dealing with major challenges even in the early days of his political career.
Having accepted the appointment as Pekan member of parliament in 1976 when he was 22, just over a month after the death of his father, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, there was no doubt that Najib was prepared to lead Umno Youth.
He was elected the wing’s ninth chief in 1988 after being acting chief since 1987.
His ascension to power in the party, however, was not hasty and began from the ground up — he served as Pekan Umno Youth chief from 1982 to 1990.
“In the Youth wing, he never sought promotion through leadership challenges or by stepping on anyone’s toes,” said Malaysian Press Institute chief executive officer Datuk Dr Chamil Wariya, a keen follower of Najib since his early days as a leader.
“He merely offered himself as a candidate for a higher post whenever there was a vacancy if he was confident of receiving members’ support.”
Chamil has written multiple books on Najib, including In His Own Right: Najib Razak and Malaysian Politics, Najib Razak: Prime Minister of Malaysia and Strategi Pemujukan Najib Razak Dalam Komunikasi Politik.
Najib took over the leadership of Umno Youth when the party was going through serious internal crises, which resulted in the party being split and de-registered.
When the party was revived under the name Umno Baru, Najib was its first Youth chief — indeed, its first member.
His first task was to revive the Youth wing at all levels, namely national, state, division and branch, and bring in new members, a task he accomplished in just three weeks.
Following the achievement, Najib remained a realistic and pragmatic leader who did not promise anything drastic, but instead, focused on continuing the struggles of the party’s past generations and leaders.
With factions existing in the party and Malay unity at stake, he made attracting more members into the Umno fold and convincing Malays that the party was the true defender of Malay rights the Youth wing’s primary mission.
In In His Own Right, Najib is quoted as saying: “Umno Youth is only fighting for the rights, integrity and interests of Malays which have been mutually agreed upon. So, we will confront whoever challenges those rights.”
During his seven-year leadership of Umno Youth, he gave seven keynote addresses at the party’s general assemblies at the Putra World Trade Centre.
The speeches were important as they outlined his vision for the wing’s struggles.
In one of his most compelling speeches, which was given on Nov 7, 1991, Najib announced his theme for Umno Youth’s struggles: “Youth with strong foundations and forward-thinking.”
Although critics said he had entered politics as “Tun Razak’s son”, Chamil noted, it was not long before Najib stamped his own mark.
Political observers agreed that Najib had emerged from his father’s shadows and worked his own way up the corridors of power.
“He stood on his own and climbed up the ladder in the party and government through his leadership and vision,” said Chamil.
“He emerged as a fully-fledged politician because of his abilities.”
Najib once told Chamil: “If I had used my father’s name, I would have been scrutinised so much and I would not have been recognised based on my own merit.
“That was probably what prevented me from being politically active earlier.”
Federal Territories Minister and Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, who was Umno Youth treasurer in 1988, said he remembered Najib as a soft-spoken leader, even at a young age.
“I remember how we were able to register new party members in a short time.
“It was quite a challenge and we were under a lot of pressure, but Najib maintained his gentle and relaxed character,” he told the New Straits Times.
Tengku Adnan described Najib as someone who thought things out carefully and would examine things in minute detail before making a decision.
“He was never hasty. He would tell us, his Youth officers, what he wanted and he expected us to do it well.
“Since we were new in politics, we would make mistakes.
“However, Najib never got angry. Instead, he would talk to us in a diplomatic manner, but we all knew that he meant business.”
He said not many people knew that Najib had always been a humble person.
One thing that Najib and his late father have in common is their concern for the country.
In that sense, Tun Razak’s legacy is alive.
“Like his father, he wants the country to thrive, while ensuring that the people’s welfare is taken care of,” said Tengku Adnan.
“The people, regardless of race, creed or colour, always come first for him.”