KEPALA BATAS: Umno plans to build a leadership centre and political research institute named after the late Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, says party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“Besides providing leadership training, it can be utilised by researchers and historians. It’s a resource pool for those who want to delve into the country’s struggle in the past 79 years from the context of Umno,” he said yesterday.

He said setting up the institute involved reviving Umno’s existing research centre, enlarging it and then naming it after former prime minister Abdullah.

“I will raise this proposal in the Umno supreme council meeting next month.

“If all goes smoothly, we will officially announce the new leadership and political research institute during Umno’s 80th anniversary celebration next year,” he said after the proclamation ceremony that renamed the Kepala Batas Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) to Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi MRSM yesterday.

He said the name change befitted the legacy of Abdullah whose contribution to not only Kepala Batas, but also to the country, was immeasurable.

To further honour Abdullah, Ahmad Zahid said he instructed Mara to conduct seminars on the thoughts and ideas of Abdullah this month.

He said these seminars were for intellectuals, historians and professionals, particularly among Umno leaders and members, to explore Abdullah’s musings through various phases of his career and eventually as prime minister.

Present during the proclamation ceremony were Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Mohamad Abdul Hamid, Kepala Batas MP Dr Siti Mastura Muhammad, Bertam assemblyman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Majlis Amanah Rakyat chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki and Abdullah’s son Tan Sri Kamaluddin Abdullah.

Kamaluddin expressed his family’s gratitude for the recognition given to his father.

“Here lie the graves of his father, mother and grandmother.

“He was raised here and served the people of Kepala Batas for more than three decades,” he said.