Buku Merah and Buku Hijau

Tun Abdul Razak believed that development should not remain a promise made in government offices. It had to be visible in villages, schools, roads, farms, and in the daily lives of the people.

As Minister of Rural Development, he introduced the Buku Merah (Red Book), an innovative system that recorded and monitored development projects at the district level. More than a record book, it became a practical tool to ensure that plans were translated into action. Through regular monitoring and accountability, development officers could track progress, identify challenges, and ensure that projects reached the communities they were intended to serve.

A decade later, amid global economic uncertainty and rising food prices, Tun Abdul Razak launched the Buku Hijau (Green Book) Movement in 1974. The initiative encouraged Malaysians to make productive use of available land by growing food crops and increasing agricultural output. What began as a national campaign soon became a collective effort involving government agencies, schools, communities, and households across the country.

Though different in purpose, both initiatives reflected the same vision: development must be practical, inclusive, and focused on improving the lives of ordinary people. Through Buku Merah and Buku Hijau, Tun Abdul Razak demonstrated that nation-building required not only bold ideas but also the discipline and determination to turn those ideas into reality.