Mohd Azumi is new army chief

KUALA LUMPUR: First Infantry Division commander Lt-Jen Datuk Mohd Azumi Mohamed has been promoted to be the new army chief with the rank of Jeneral, effective yesterday.  

Jen Mohd Azumi, 55, succeeds Jen Datuk Seri Mohd Shahrom Nordin, who retired from the force after 37 years of service. 

Chief of Defence Forces Jen Tan Sri Mohamed Zahidi Zainuddin witnessed the handing over of duties at the Defence Ministry here. 

Jen Mohd Azumi pledged he would do his utmost to enhance the image of the army while maintaining a high standard of professionalism among its personnel. 

“I’m confident that I can command support and assistance of all men irrespective of their ranks which will be vital in ensuring that all the tasks given to the army can be carried out effectively,” he said. 

Perak-born Mohd Azumi underwent cadet officer training at the Royal Military College in 1962 before attending the Australian Cadet Officers School at Portsea. 

He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant with the Royal Malay Regiment (RMR) in 1969 and posted to the RMR’s Third Battalion. 

He attended the US Army Infantry Advance Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, in 1978 and was later posted to the Army Training Centre (Pulada) where he served for two years as an Instructor in the All Arms Tactics Wing and the Company Commander Course. 

He was promoted to Lt Colonel in 1983, Brig-Jen in 1995 and Lt-Jen in 2001. 

Among other tasks, he had overseen the deployment of Malaysia’s peacekeeping troops and military observers in Cambodia, Somalia and Bosnia-Herzegovina under the United Nations’ banner. 

Jen Mohd Azumi had captained the national hockey team in 1965/1966. – Bernama