ORAL HISTORY – EXECUTIVE TALKING POINTS (SESSION 2)@ PERDANA LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION (PLF)

2^ND DECEMBER 2025

SYED HAMID ALBAR

 

(SHORT VERSION)

SYED HAMID ALBAR

 

1. Bridge from Session 1

         •        Previously we covered:

         •        Big family, moving between states, growing up in Johor.

         •        Early education: Malay school, religious school, then Australia & UK.

         •        Career before politics:

         •        Judicial & legal service – Magistrate (KL), President of Sessions Court (Temerloh).

         •        Banking & corporate sector (around 15 years).

         •        Advocate & Solicitor (1986–1990).

         •        Key idea:

“All of that was preparation before I stepped into public life as an MP, minister and foreign minister.”

 

2. My father, “Lion of UMNO”, and my mother

         •        Father: Syed Jaafar Albar

         •        Known as the “Lion of UMNO” – open, fearless in speaking on religion, Malays and the country.

         •        Spoke truth to power, even when uncomfortable.

         •        Home full of political discussion; as children, we listened quietly.

•        Taught that politics = responsibility and struggle, not glamour.

         •        Mother: Syarifah Fatimah

         •        Calm, patient, centre of the family.

         •        Taught compassion, humility, care for others.

         •        Balanced my father’s fiery public style.

         •        My inheritance:

         •        From father: principle, courage, sense of justice.

         •        From mother: empathy, modesty, restraint.

 

3. Two key anecdotes about my father (optional highlights)

         1.      Carcosa & independence

         •        Idea to gift Carcosa land to the British as “thanks” for independence.

•        My father opposed: British had taken much from Malaya; independence is a right, not a favour.

         •        Reflects his strong sense of dignity and justice.

         2.      Draft speech under Tun Razak

         •        Draft policy speech for Tun Razak (UMNO AGM) mentioned three names for Vice-President.

•        My father objected: policy speech must set direction, not endorse individuals; unfair to other candidates.

•        He later lost the contest; Tun Razak offered him a Supreme Council seat.

•        He rejected it – did not want to return “through the back door” without delegates’ mandate.

 

4. Entry into politics & Parliament

         •        Politics came gradually, not overnight.

         •        After seeing law, courts, banking, corporate world and practice:

         •        Realised policies directly affect ordinary people.

         •        Felt a duty to move from observer to participant.

         •        Stood in same constituency his father served:

         •        Father: 1959–1977; I served: 1990–2013.

         •        As MP:

         •        Met real concerns: jobs, schooling, land, roads, cost of living.

         •        Kept my politics grounded in people’s daily lives.

 

5. Serving in Cabinet

         •        Held several portfolios:

         •        Law / legal affairs.

         •        Home affairs & internal security.

         •        Defence.

         •        Foreign affairs.

         •        Lessons:

         •        Law: must protect, not oppress; implementation as important as drafting.

         •        Home affairs: balance order & rights, firmness & humanity.

         •        Defence: behind every “policy” are soldiers, families, real sacrifices.

         •        Cabinet: government is teamwork; no one has all the answers.

         •        Theory vs reality:

         •        Ideologies and models learned at university must be adapted to context and culture.

         •        Principles stay, but applications must be realistic.

 

6. Diplomacy, UN, ASEAN and a changing world

         •        UN General Assembly (New York):

         •        Standing at podium: “I am Malaysia, not just Syed Hamid.”

         •        UN shows idealism + power politics.

         •        Corridor diplomacy often more effective than speeches.

         •        Asian Financial Crisis 1997/98:

         •        Showed vulnerability of economies to markets and speculation.

•        Malaysia chose its own path (capital controls, ringgit measures).

•        Message: sometimes leadership means polite disagreement with powerful institutions.

         •        9/11, “War on Terror”, Islamophobia:

         •        Muslims suddenly seen with suspicion worldwide.

         •        Tried to stress: terrorism has no religion; must address root causes (injustice, occupation, humiliation).

         •        Saw double standards and hegemonic narratives clearly.

         •        ASEAN & regionalism:

         •        ASEAN as our “regional home”.

         •        Consensus culture – slow but inclusive.

         •        Need a people-centred ASEAN: bring in youth and civil society, not just governments.

 

7. Lifelong learning & AeU

         •        Always felt I still know too little.

         •        As Chancellor of Asia eUniversity (AeU):

         •        Met adult learners juggling work, family, study.

         •        Very humbling; confirmed belief in learning from cradle to grave.

         •        Education not only to get a title:

         •        But to serve better and understand the world more deeply.

 

8. Leadership, power and life after office

         •        Core belief: power is a trust (amanah), not a trophy.

         •        Positions are temporary; what remains is:

         •        How we treated people.

         •        Whether we acted with integrity and compassion.

         •        After office:

         •        Phone becomes quieter, fewer invitations.

         •        You see who values you as a person, not your position.

         •        True measure:

         •        Can you look back and still walk in public without shame?

 

9. Advice to young Malaysians (short form)

         •        Build your character before your career.

         •        Take knowledge seriously; don’t live on slogans and social media alone.

•        Stay idealistic, but learn how systems work so you can change them intelligently.

•        Serve from wherever you are – government, private sector, academia, civil society.

         •        Keep empathy and conscience:

         •        Remember policies affect real lives.

         •        Hope:

         •        The next generation will serve Malaysia with more justice, more wisdom, more compassion than my generation managed.