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
Written by: Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, 2004
Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) has renamed Maktab Rendah Sains MARA (MRSM) Kepala Batas to MRSM Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, paying tribute to Malaysia’s fifth Prime Minister for his enduring contributions to national development, particularly in education.
The proclamation of MRSM Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is a special recognition of a figure who has rendered immense service to religion, race, and the nation.
For the record, the renaming was officiated on 12 May 2025 by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Rural and Regional Development, YAB Dato’ Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid.
Strategically located in Seberang Perai, the institution began operations on 1 March 2007, welcoming its first cohort of 359 students on 16 April 2007.
Its establishment marked a significant milestone in MARA’s efforts to expand access to quality education for Bumiputera students in northern Peninsular Malaysia.
Fittingly, MRSM Kepala Batas was officially inaugurated by the late Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi himself on 29 March 2009 during the grand Launch Ceremony of Federal Projects for the Kepala Batas parliamentary constituency, held at the Dewan Milenium, Kepala Batas.
A statesman of great stature, Tun Abdullah was a staunch supporter of MARA’s vision to uplift education through institutions such as Kolej Profesional MARA, GIATMARA, and MRSM.
Among his notable legacies is introducing and strengthening the dual-education system—a model that integrates secular and religious knowledge, forming the foundation of the now-renowned MRSM Ulul Albab programme.
MARA has since established eight MRSM Ulul Albab campuses nationwide, continuing his mission of nurturing well-rounded, academically excellent Huffaz (Quran memorisers).
These institutions also aim to cultivate individuals of high integrity and leadership potential who are grounded in comprehensive Islamic values and ready to serve the community and country.
The Ulul Albab concept is not limited to secondary education; it has also been adopted by Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), where selected programmes are integrated with High Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), continuing Tun Abdullah’s vision of holistic, faith-based education.
