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

2^ND DECEMBER 2025

SYED HAMID ALBAR

 

1. Bridging from the first session

         •        Previously we spoke about:

         •        My early life in a large family.

         •        Growing up in Johor, moving between states.

         •        Early schooling in Malay school and religious school.

         •        Studying in Australia and the UK, qualifying as Barrister-at-Law.

         •        Early career:

•        Judicial & legal service – Magistrate in Kuala Lumpur, President of the Sessions Court in Temerloh.

         •        15 years in banking and the corporate world.

         •        Returning to law as an Advocate & Solicitor (1986–1990).

         •        How these experiences shaped my worldview before I entered politics.

 

“All of that was preparation before I stepped into public life as a politician and later as a minister and foreign minister.”

 

2. My father – “Lion of UMNO” – and his influence

         •        My father, Syed Jaafar Albar, was:

         •        A teacher, journalist, writer on religion and politics, and UMNO leader.

•        Known as the “Lion of UMNO” for his openness and courage to speak out on issues of religion, the Malay community and the country.

•        Direct, candid, unafraid to speak truth to power, even when it was unpopular.

         •        At home:

         •        He was firm and disciplined, but a father first.

         •        Our home was a meeting place for party leaders – we listened quietly from the side.

•        This taught me that politics is about struggle and responsibility, not glamour.

         •        My mother, Syarifah Fatimah binti Syed Salim Albar:

         •        The calm centre of the family.

         •        Taught patience, compassion, and care for others.

         •        Balanced my father’s fiery public life.

         •        What I inherited:

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

         •        From my mother: empathy, humility, restraint.

3. Key anecdotes about my father (for record)

 

a) Carcosa and independence

•        There was an idea that Tunku Abdul Rahman should gift Carcosa, a beautiful and valuable piece of land, to the British Government as a gesture of gratitude for independence.

         •        My father strongly objected:

         •        He argued the British had already taken so much from our country.

         •        Independence was our right, not a favour.

         •        In his view, they should compensate us, not the other way around.

•        This reflects his sense of justice and his view of independence as dignity, not charity.

 

b) Draft policy speech under Tun Abdul Razak

•        During the era of Tun Abdul Razak, a draft policy speech for the UMNO General Assembly was prepared.

•        The draft mentioned three specific names as candidates for Vice-President.

         •        My father objected:

         •        He said the President’s policy speech should not include those names.

•        The speech should set direction and principles, not endorse individuals.

•        Mentioning only three names would unfairly influence delegates and distort the party’s democratic process.

         •        The powerful part:

         •        He himself was one of the candidates and lost in that contest.

         •        After the election, Tun Razak, with generosity, offered him a place in the UMNO Supreme Council.

•        My father rejected the offer, saying if delegates did not elect him, he should not re-enter through the “back door”.

         •        This shows:

         •        He defended fairness even when it went against his own interest.

         •        He lived by his principles, not just spoke about them.

 

4. Entry into politics and public life

         •        Politics did not come as a sudden decision.

         •        Initial focus on:

         •        Law, judiciary, banking, corporate world, private practice.

         •        Over time, felt that:

         •        I had seen how laws, policies and economic decisions affected ordinary people.

         •        It was not enough to stand outside and comment.

              •        There was a responsibility to enter the arena and try to shape decisions.

•        I stood in the same parliamentary constituency my father had served:

         •        He served from 1959–1977.

         •        I served from 1990–2013.

         •        Advantage:

         •        People knew the family name.

         •        Challenge:

         •        I did not want to live only in my father’s shadow.

         •        I wanted to build my own record and service.

         •        As MP:

         •        I met villagers, farmers, fishermen, small traders, civil servants, youth.

•        Their concerns were simple and direct: jobs, school, land, roads, cost of living.

         •        This kept my politics grounded in real life, not just ideology.

 

5. Serving in Cabinet – different portfolios, same trust

         •        I served in several ministerial roles:

         •        Legal/justice-related portfolios.

         •        Home affairs and internal security.

         •        Defence.

         •        Foreign affairs.

         •        Key lessons:

         •        Law & internal affairs – laws on paper must be implemented fairly; law must protect, not oppress.

•        Defence – behind every uniform there is a young person, a family, sacrifices we rarely see.

•        Home affairs – constant balance between firmness and mercy, between security and civil liberties.

•        Cabinet as a team – no minister has all the answers; decisions are collective.

         •        Governing vs theory:

         •        University taught ideologies, theories, neat concepts.

         •        Reality is messy, full of trade-offs.

         •        You must adapt principles to context without abandoning your core values.

 

6. Diplomacy, the UN and ASEAN

 

a) Representing Malaysia at the UN

         •        As Foreign Minister, I attended the UN General Assembly in New York regularly.

         •        Standing at the UN podium:

         •        I was very aware: “I am not just Syed Hamid; I am Malaysia.”

         •        The UN:

         •        Idealistic in its Charter, but full of power politics.

         •        Many speeches, but not all problems resolved.

         •        Important:

         •        Corridor diplomacy – side meetings, bilateral sessions, quiet discussions often matter more than big speeches.

 

b) Asian Financial Crisis 1997/98

         •        Showed how quickly economies can be shaken by markets and speculation.

         •        Malaysia chose an independent path:

         •        Capital controls, ringgit measures, restructuring the economy on our own terms.

         •        Lesson:

         •        Leadership sometimes means politely disagreeing with powerful institutions when national interest is at stake.

 

c) 9/11, “War on Terror” and Islamophobia

         •        As a Muslim and as Foreign Minister, I saw how:

         •        Overnight, Muslims everywhere became a suspect community.

         •        Islam often linked with terrorism in media and policy language.

         •        I tried to convey:

         •        Terrorism has no religion.

         •        If we do not address root causes – injustice, occupation, humiliation – we will not solve extremism.

         •        Also saw:

         •        Double standards and hegemonic narratives.

         •        The way big powers use language like “security”, “democracy” and “reform” to justify certain actions.

         •        Conclusion:

         •        We must confront both violence and hypocrisy.

         •        Knowledge and critical thinking are essential.

 

d) ASEAN and regionalism

         •        ASEAN is our regional “home”.

         •        Learned the art of consensus:

         •        Moving together, even if slowly, is often better than moving alone and splitting the region.

         •        Belief in a people-centred ASEAN:

         •        Involving youth and civil society, not just governments.

         •        Community-building must include ordinary people, not only elites.

 

7. Thought leadership & lifelong learning

•        I never felt I knew enough; I always felt there was more to learn.

         •        Role as Chancellor of Asia eUniversity (AeU):

         •        Saw many adult learners – working, with families, still studying.

•        Very humbling to see people in their 30s, 40s, 50s pursuing degrees.

         •        Strong belief in:

         •        Learning from cradle to grave.

         •        Education not just for the young, not just for prestige.

         •        Learning in order to serve better, not merely to succeed or show off.

 

8. Leadership, power and life after office

         •        For me, power is an amanah, not a trophy.

         •        Positions come and go; what remains:

         •        How we treated people.

         •        Whether we tried to be fair and compassionate.

         •        After leaving office:

         •        The phone becomes quieter, invitations fewer.

         •        You discover who values you as a person, not as a minister.

         •        This stage teaches:

         •        Humility.

         •        That your worth is not your title, but your character and legacy.

 

9. Advice to young Malaysians

         •        Build character before career.

         •        Be serious about knowledge, not just headlines and social media.

         •        Stay idealistic, but understand how systems work.

         •        Criticise when needed, but also ask: “How would I fix it?”

         •        Serve from wherever you are:

         •        Government, private sector, academia, civil society – all can contribute.

         •        Keep empathy:

         •        Policies and statistics affect real human beings.

         •        Aim to serve Malaysia with integrity, wisdom and compassion.