The idea is that they wouldn't want to deal with militant Islam but an Islam and Muslims who are committed to progress, committed to development, who like peace and are moderate in their ways. So that's what we are doing here.

Although his party Barisan Nasional suffered a major setback Abdullah Badawi vowed to fulfill the promises in his manifesto amid calls from Mahathir the opposition and even among UMNO members for him to resign. Mahathir expressed regret in picking Abdullah Badawi as his successor and said that he had originally intended for Abdullah Badawi's deputy Najib Tun Razak to succeed him. Fahim later sold this stake to Lufthansa's LSG Skychef at a huge profit.

On 3 April 2009 he was succeeded by Najib Tun Razak as Prime Minister. He also called Bapa Pembangunan Modal Insan (Father of Human Capital Development). Mahathir bin Mohamad sacked Anwar Ibrahim he appointed Abdullah as Deputy Prime Minister.