Tun Abdullah Bin Haji Ahmad Badawi

Background and early life

Abdullah Badawi was born in Kampung Perlis, Bayan Lepas, Penang to a prominent religious family. Badawi's paternal grandfather, Syeikh Abdullah Badawi Fahim, was of Arab descent.[3] Syeikh Abdullah was a well-respected religious leader and nationalist, was one of the founding members of Hizbul Muslimin, later known as PAS. After independence, Syeikh Abdullah became the first mufti of Penang after Independence.[4] His father, Ahmad Badawi, was a prominent religious figure and UMNO member. His maternal grandfather, Ha Su-chiang (also known as Hassan), was a Chinese Muslim who came from Sanya in Hainan.[5]
Abdullah Badawi is a former student of Bukit Mertajam High School. After failing to enrol into his first choice course, economics, Badawi opted for a less to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Studies from the University of Malaya in 1964.