Life More Meaningful And Happier Now, Says Pak Lah

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi tonight admitted that his life is now more meaningful and happier following his marriage to Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah.

The Prime Minister, who married Jeanne on June 9, said although it had been one month since he remarried, he and his wife felt like a newly-married couple as they were frequently invited to functions by various groups to celebrate their wedding.

"Since becoming a bridegroom, people have done many things to me, I feel shy at times, but tonight I truly feel like a bridegroom. I have already exceeded 60 and it had never occurred to me that I would be a bridegroom again," he said at a dinner hosted by the Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) to celebrate his wedding at Parliament House.

At the dinner, Abdullah and his wife were given a surprise with a `bersanding' ceremony flanked by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.

Abdullah said although his life was now happier with his wife, children and grandchildren, he had never forgotten his late wife, Datin Seri Endon Mahmood.

"You want the Prime Minister to be happy, I am happy now," said Abdullah to loud applause from the more than 1,000 guests comprising members of the Dewan Rakyat and Senate.

Abdullah said he hoped that Jeanne would also get to know the women members of Parliament and the wives of the elected representatives.

Also present at the event were BNBBC acting chairman Datuk Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib and Senate President Tan Sri Dr Abdul Hamid Pawanteh.

The guests were also entertained to songs by local singers Datuk Yusni Hamid and Siti Sarah Raisuddin. (Bernama)

***** People all over the world sometimes tend to take their leaders for granted. We in Malaysia are no exception. We forget that our pemimpin2 too are ordinary folks with families and they too have needs and feelings like the rest of the population.

I still remember when Dr Mahathir was the PM, everyone used to be amazed at the rigorous schedule that he used to keep. He was almost superhuman and seemed incapable of being fatigued. But he had his fair share of health problems too. Yet he was prepared to sacrifice time with his family as well as his personal freedom. How much of his efforts for the nation are appreciated today, I can't say. That's the price a politician has to pay.

Pak Lah too is an ordinary human being with ordinary needs including companionship. Some of us may mistakenly think that at an older age such things are not important. This is not true. Those who are in their sixties, seventies or eighties have the same feelings as younger people. They too want to be happy, do cry when they are sad and most importantly they too get hurt when others don't understand that they have sensitivities and feelings as well.

Pak Lah is a lucky individual in that he is capable of communicating at a personal level with the ordinary citizen and is comfortable when he discusses his private life and shares his thoughts. Not many people have that gift. There is no doubt that a contented and happy Prime Minister is good for the country.