PAK LAH'S POEM 'KU CARI DAMAI ABADI' RESURFACED ACROSS SOCIAL MEDIA

KUALA LUMPUR,  April 15 (Bernama) --  The poem Ku Cari Damai Abadi (I Seek Eternal Peace), written by Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2004, resurfaced today as Malaysian netizens shared it across social media in remembrance of the country’s 5th Prime Minister, fondly known as Pak Lah.

The poem had indeed gone viral following the heartbreaking news of the statesman's passing last night.

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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 Buku Karangkraf Group, Sri Diah Shaharuddin, who shared the poem on Facebook, expressed her admiration for Tun Abdullah’s work, describing it as a reflection of a thoughtful soul and a deep, contemplative mind.

“As a writer, I’ve always admired his words. His poem carries both heart and intellect,” she said.

“Farewell on your journey to the eternal realm, Pak Lah. We pray that God welcomes you with mercy and forgiveness,” she added, noting that the poem was also turned into a song performed by legendary rock icon Datuk Ramli Sarip.

Another writer, Dr Kamarul Ariffin Nor Sadan, said that the poem has become symbolic - capturing a deep yearning to find the true meaning of life, not through wealth, possessions, or fleeting worldly pleasures, but through a connection with God and the pursuit of spiritual peace.

In a Facebook post, he wrote that the poem emphasises how true happiness does not stem from material riches or worldly entertainment, but from awareness of the divine and a sincere relationship with the Almighty.

“Each line of the poem invites readers and listeners to reflect on what truly matters in life - the search for and the experience of lasting peace through faith and devotion to divine guidance,” he said.

Dr Kamarul noted that the poem has been translated into various languages and continues to inspire many, and its enduring relevance reflects the depth of the late statesman's philosophy and his heartfelt effort to encourage society to view life through a more holistic and meaningful lens.

Another writer, Fakhri Fadzli, remembered the late Pak Lah as both a thinker and a writer.

“His poem wasn't just a piece of writing - it was the principle and philosophy he lived by,” Fadzli wrote on X while urging his followers to take a moment to truly reflect on the lines of the poem.

Tun Abdullah, 85, breathed his last at the National Heart Institute at 7.10 pm yesterday. Born on Nov 26, 1939, in Bayan Lepas, Penang, Abdullah helmed the country’s premiership from Oct 31, 2003, until April 3, 2009, following the resignation of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

-- BERNAMA