Kuala lumpur: Army Western Field Commander Lieutenant-General Datuk Malek Razak Sulaiman has been appointed as the new Chief of the Defence Force, effective tomorrow. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin announced that His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, had consented to Malek Razak’s promotion to the rank of General and his subsequent appointment as the Chief of Defence Force.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the appointment aligns with the recommendation of the 633rd (Special) Armed Forces Council meeting held on January 29, which received the royal consent on January 30. Mohamed Khaled highlighted Malek Razak’s educational background, noting his Diploma in Strategic and Security Studies from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), a Master of Arts in Defence Studies from King’s College London, and a Master of Social Science in Defence Studies from UKM.

Malek Razak’s military career began in 1985 as an Overseas Cadet Officer at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, United Kingdom, a
nd he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on December 11, 1987. Mohamed Khaled stated that Malek Razak’s initial role was as a platoon commander with the 21st Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment. Over his career, he has served in various units, holding numerous command and staff appointments, with his most recent position being the Western Field Commander of the Army.

The minister expressed confidence that Malek Razak’s extensive experience and proven credibility would strengthen the leadership and capabilities of the Armed Forces in addressing national defence challenges. He emphasized that the appointment would help restore and reinforce the Armed Forces’ prestige through leadership founded on integrity and professionalism, while also maintaining public confidence in the country’s defence institution.