Today, the nation mourns the loss of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Malaysia’s fifth prime minister and a pivotal figure who contributed immensely to the development of the country’s human capital, which earned him the title of Malaysia’s Father of Human Capital Development.

Affectionately known as “Pak Lah”, Abdullah was a pioneer of a way of thinking that emphasises human capital development as the foundation for future generations’ success.

The former prime minister, known for his modest Islamic leader image...