A heartfelt poem written by the late Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, titled “Ku Cari Damai Abadi,” has resurfaced and is being widely shared by Malaysians from all walks of life, serving as a tribute and remembrance of the country’s fifth Prime Minister.
The verses, penned by the late leader—affectionately known as “Pak Lah”—in 2004 have gone viral once again on social media following news of his passing last night.
Aku cari bukan harta bertimbun-timbun
Untuk hidup kaya
Aku cari bukan wang berjuta-juta
Untuk hidup bergaya
Aku cari bukan kawan-kawan
Untuk hidup sekadar berfoya-foya
Aku cari mana dia Al-Ghazali
Aku cari mana dia Al-Shafie,
Kita bongkar rahsia kitab suci
Cari pedoman
Kita bongkar rahsia sunnah nabi
Cari panduan
Aku hidup kerana Dia Rabbi
Dialah teman
Dialah wali
Dia mencukupi
Aku hidup bererti
Menikmati damai abadi
Former General Manager of Grup Buku Karangkraf, Sri Diah Shaharuddin, who also shared the poem on Facebook, said that as a fellow writer, she deeply admired Abdullah’s work, describing it as rich with soul and profound thought.
“Farewell to the eternal land, Pak Lah. May God receive you with mercy and forgiveness,” she wrote, noting that the poem had also been turned into a song by legendary rock musician Datuk Ramli Sarip.
Writer Dr. Kamarul Ariffin Nor Sadan reflected that the poem is symbolic and expresses a longing to discover the true meaning of life—not through wealth, money, or worldly pleasures, but through a connection with God and the pursuit of spiritual peace.
In a Facebook post, Dr. Kamarul explained that the poem emphasizes how true happiness does not stem from material riches or entertainment, but from spiritual awareness and a close relationship with the Almighty.
“Every line of this poem invites the reader or listener to reflect on what truly matters in life—seeking and embracing eternal peace through faith and understanding of divine guidance,” he wrote.
He also noted that the poem has been translated into multiple languages and continues to inspire many, showcasing the depth of the late Prime Minister’s philosophy in encouraging society to view life in a more holistic and meaningful way.
Meanwhile, writer Fakhri Fadzli described the late Pak Lah as not only a statesman but also a thinker and poet.
“His poem Ku Cari Damai Abadi reflects the principles and philosophy of life that he lived by,” Fakhri shared on the social media platform X, encouraging his followers to take a moment to reflect on its message.
Former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was laid to rest at Makam Pahlawan at 2:26 PM on Tuesday, following a state funeral attended by thousands, including national leaders and former prime ministers, who gathered at Masjid Negara to pay their final respects.
Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who served as Malaysia’s Prime Minister from 2003 to 2009, passed away at the National Heart Institute (IJN) at 7:10 PM yesterday at the age of 85.
Source: Awani