Changes In Malaysian Armed Forces Leadership

MALAYSIA’S Armed Forces received a change in leadership amidst controversies at the top of its leadership, leading to a reshuffle amongst the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) involving the MAF Headquarters, Joint Force Command, Malaysian Army, and Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN).

The Army received a new chief earlier in January, General Azhan Md Othman after his predecessor Gen Haffizuddeain Jantan was removed due to allegations of corruption. Gen Hafizuddeain had been poised to take the MAF’s top job as Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) once the incumbent Gen Mohd Nizam Jaafar retired.

Soon after, the Army’s deputy chief Lieutenant General Tengku Muhammad Fauzi was appointed as Joint Force Commander, replacing Lt Gen Zahani Zainal Abidin who moves to the position as chief executive officer of the Malaysian Institute of Defence and Security (MIDAS).

Next, Lt Gen Muhammad Huzaimi Sabri took over as chief of staff of the MAF Headquarters while Major General Mohamad Suria Mohamad Saad was promoted to deputy chief of Army, receiving his third star to Lt Gen. In the RMN, Vice Admiral Badarudin Taha replaces VAdm Shamsuddin Ludin as deputy chief of Navy. The MAF’s top job remains empty at this time with RMN Chief Adm Zulhelmy Ithnain serving as acting CDF.