Najib inspired by dad
January 26, 2006
The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: It did not cross Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's mind to be actively involved in politics one day although he was a student leader during his university days in England. 

Najib said he was shocked, when he was named Pahang Mentri Besar at the young age of 29 in 1982, three years after his father and former Prime Minister Tun Razak Hussein died while in office. 

“I was interested (in politics) early on in Nottingham University where I studied but I was shocked to be suddenly named the Mentri Besar of my home state,” he said during the Bersama Menteri talk show aired on TV1 last night. 

“But I realised that Umno wanted me in Pekan and I decided to work hard and learn from the experience.  

“I thought of my father, who sacrificed a lot as Prime Minister. He was my inspiration to work for the country.”  

The Deputy Prime Minister said that among the happiest moments in his 30-year political career were being re-elected eight times as Pekan MP and his election as Umno vice-president thrice. 

On his role as deputy to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Najib said his responsibility was to continue the efforts outlined by the previous leadership to realise Malaysia's Vision 2020. 

He said that Abdullah's administrative style was more liberal, and the people and the media were accorded more leeway in expressing their views now compared with before.  

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/1/26/nation/13225302&sec=nation