Kuala lumpur: The new Chief of Defence Force, Gen Datuk Malek Razak Sulaiman, has announced a comprehensive "total clean-up" of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) focusing on governance, integrity, procurement, and financial management.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Gen Malek Razak emphasized the MAF's zero-tolerance policy towards governance breaches related to human resource management, development planning, finance, and procurement. He made these remarks during a press conference following his induction as the 24th Chief of Defence Force at Wisma Pertahanan.
Gen Malek Razak shared that he had a meeting with His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, earlier in the day. During this meeting, he received critical instructions emphasizing leadership by example, integrity, and governance within the MAF. His Majesty stressed the importance of discipline as the core principle safeguarding national security and sovereignty.
The welfare and morale of MAF personnel were also highlighted by His Majesty, especially given recent developments that have affected the armed forces. Gen Malek Razak acknowledged public concerns regarding these issues, recognizing the public as key stakeholders in national security.
He stated that the MAF is aware of public anxiety and views recent events as an opportunity for reflection and reassessment. The Defence Ministry has already initiated actions over the past month, and a comprehensive improvement process is underway. He described the current situation as a "bounce-back time" for the MAF and expressed confidence in the organization's resilience.
Gen Malek Razak plans to outline a detailed mandate and action plan soon to address these issues and guide the MAF forward as a reliable force and pillar of trust for the nation. He acknowledged the challenges of his role but expressed confidence in restoring public confidence in the MAF with the support of the government and the defence community.
Recent legal actions against senior MAF officers for corruption, abuse of power, and criminal breach of trust underscore the urgency of this overhaul.