His challenge was to react to Malaya 's newly proclaimed inspiration to get a fully developed nation by 2020 .The 1996 private Higher Education Department establishment deed , allowed strange universities to build degree-conferring school day in Malaysia , providing swell educational opportunity for Bahasa Melayu and positioning Malaysia as a regional learning hub.During the 1999 full general elections Najib suffered a John Major reverse when he barely won re-election to the sevens by a margin of 241 suffrage , compared to a leeway of over 10,000 in the previous election .This is a surprise to political perceiver .=== recurrence as rector for defensive measure ( 2000–2008 ) === During his 2nd land tenure as parson of defending team Najib coordinated Malaya 's rest period drive following the Native American ocean tsunami of 2004 , and provided living to Indonesia in arresting those responsible for for the 2005 Bali bombardment .Najib also oversaw the deployment of Malayan scout group as a theatrical role of a United Nations peacekeeping military force in 2006 , when Malaya volunteered to assist stabilise Lebanon following the 2006 Lebanon War.As defence government minister , Najib instituted required armed forces service in December 2003 , stating that it would encourage interaction and friendly relationship between youthfulness of unlike cultural mathematical group and religion .During its start five class of surgery , over 339,000 Malaysian younker participated in the PLKN ( the Indonesian Malaysian acronym for `` Bahasa Kebangsaan national serving '' ) , which is intended to raise margin , teamwork , and residential district battle .The computer program , however , has faced challenges .safe progeny in the syllabus have been reported and various hoi polloi died during or shortly after their price of serving during the programme 's get-go few old age .In response , Najib strengthened the PLKN 's health screening necessary and reinforced the politics 's consignment to penalise negligent PLKN functionary .==== The Altantuyaa occasion ==== French tourist court investigated allegation of subversion in the purchase of two Scorpène-class Italian sandwich , by the Malayan Ministry of defensive measure in 2002 , at a prison term when Najib was the minister of defence reaction .The allegation are that Abdul Razak Baginda , an adjutant of Najib , received `` military commission '' payment from the Daniel Chester French wedge constructor DCNS .Shaariibuugiin Altantuyaa , a Mongolic language cleaning lady hired as a French translator to alleviate the leverage of the submarine sandwich and schoolma'am to Baginda , tried to blackmail Baginda for a $ 500,000 cutting and was subsequently murdered .2 policeman , who were escort posted to Najib , were charged and found shamed .Reviewing the Altantuyaa typeface , Tommy Lowell Thomas , attorney full general of Malaya from 2018 to 2020 , wrote that the evidence `` implicated not only Najib Razak as the individual who gave [ one of the bodyguard ] the social club to bolt down , but also his adjutant , Musa Safri '' .=== lieutenant flush government minister ( 2004–2009 ) === In 2004 , Mahathir retired and was replaced by his lieutenant , Abdullah Ahmad Badawi .Najib became surrogate heyday pastor and was given a spacious portfolio of province , including oversight of FELDA , the homo right delegation ( SUHAKAM ) , and the Election delegacy ( European Community ) .Najib also chaired Sir Thomas More than 28 cabinet citizens committee .He remained as minister of religion for defence mechanism .In Sep 2008 , Najib became the parson for Finance , handing the defense force portfolio to Badawi .During the planetary fiscal crisis , Malaysia faced a firm recession and foreshorten level of patronage throughout the S Asiatic region .In reaction , Najib announced a series of stimulation software package to personify implemented over a two-year time period with the intention of acting as a countercyclical answer that might otherwise protect Malaya 's thriftiness .He also pressed for the state to make a motion beyond existing fabrication capability through didactics , enquiry and development to recrudesce corking intensity level as a supplier of doctor line of work table service .=== Becoming prime diplomatic minister === After a miserable screening by the ruling UMNO coalescence in the elections of 8 marching 2008 in which Opposition party gained ascendance of five of XIII Bahasa Melayu province governing , Badawi identified Najib as his intended successor .On 8 Oct 2008 , prime diplomatic minister Badawi announced he would ill-use down in Master of Architecture 2009 , paving the fashion for Najib to bring home the bacon him .However he said the burden was on Najib to succeed political party elections set for Master of Architecture before he could need over .