Najib reflects on trials and tribulations of 40 years in politics

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak regarded his 40-year political journey since Feb 21, 1976 as tortuous and replete with stories of grief and happiness and the spices of life.

Najib said, since he was picked to be a member of parliament at the age of 22 years seven months, he was beset with a myriad of ordeals including almost losing his life when the helicopter he was in went into a spin due to a mechanical problem prompting a forced landing in Janda Baik in 1987.

"During the 40 years, definitely I have been forced to go through a lot and if it is not due to allah's protection I would not have lived to this day. I was almost killed on several occasions but not many people know.

"On one occasion, the helicopter I was on almost crashed in the Janda Baik area, but thank god, I was safe," he said when sharing his trials and tribulations in the 40 years of being a politician.

He told the story in his speech after a prayer ceremony in conjunction with his 40 years of involvement in politics and government administration at the Sultan Ahmad Shah Mosque, here, Sunday night.

The event, organised by the Pekan UMNO Division, was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Dr Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob.

Najib said he had also experienced some unnerving moments when he almost fell when changing boats during an area visit to Pulau Tioman when Rompin was still under the Pekan parliamentary constituency.

"The car I was travelling was once involved in an accident...and overturned during a downpour. At that time, my wife (Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor) was pregnant and before we knew it, water began to seep into our car, but Alhamdulillah (All praises be to Allah), we were safe," he said.

In this regard, the prime minister said the ceremony tonight was indeed apt to celebrate his 40-year involvement in politics because without the blessing of Allah, he wouldn't be in the position he is today.

He also regarded today as a nostalgic and an extremely touching day for himself and that he personally wanted the ceremony to be held in Pekan because this was where his political career began.

Najib said without the aid and support of the people of Pekan he would not be able to persevere in politics until today.

He also revealed that during the early years of his involvement in politics, he was not confident of himself as he was young and had just returned from abroad.

"I don't know whether I should contest or not. At that time, I had just started working after studying abroad for eight years. I was nervous to talk in Bahasa Melayu, let alone to deliver a speech.

"I was forced to learn from the people of Pekan Lama and in the old wooden house (Tun Razak's house in Pekan) I learned everything," he said.

The prime minister said he finally decided to venture into politics because it was the only way he could help the poor and destitute and that it gave him a personal satisfaction.

"It is a deep and emotional satisfaction that I feel when I can help those who are truly poor and in need of help whether in the form of money, house, performing haj or scholarship," he said.

As a politician and Pekan Member of Parliament, Najib also expressed his pride for having done so much to carry out transformation and development for the country, including for the district of Pekan and the state of Pahang.