Najib Razak giving a speech at the SME Annual Showcase & SME Conference 2017 at the Malaysian International Trade and Exhibition Centre today. He says his 'recipe' has worked, and now, he is the prime minister of Malaysia. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, November 16, 2017.

PRIME Minister Najib Razak said he bided his time throughout his political career and never challenged anyone for positions.

"I moved on step by step. Never have I ever challenged anyone in my political life. 

"Always, whenever there is a vacancy, I offer myself.

"Alhamdulillah, that recipe has worked, and now, I find myself as the leader of Malaysia, where the stress level is much, much higher.

"I assure you that if you have the chance to be prime minister, you’ll realise this. You’ll realise this huge quantum leap and you’ll have to learn to manage it," said Najib at the SME Annual Showcase & SME Conference 2017 at the Malaysian International Trade and Exhibition Centre today.

He said he exercised, watched TV and football matches, and read to de-stress.

"There are different ways of managing stress. In my case, I would say, do the things that you enjoy doing, but do the right things.

"For example, I find that exercising is important, and it must be the right form of physical exercise. It must lead to a healthy body.

"Golf is recreational, but it doesn’t lead to a healthy body. Golfers are not healthy. They think they are healthy, but are not.  " 

"My daughter tells me golf is slightly better than not doing anything at all," said Najib in jest.

The son of Malaysia's second prime minister, Abdul Razak Hussein, also recalled that he became a member of parliament at 22, deputy minister at 25 and menteri besar at 29.

"I wouldn’t recommend that you follow this route because you have to give up a lot of things in your life.

"At an early age, I was thrown into the deep end of the pool. It’s either you sink or you swim." 

"I told myself that I had better try to swim. I don’t want to get drowned.” – November 16, 2017.