Indonesian naval chief conferred award

KUALA LUMPUR: The Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy Admiral Ade Supandi has been conferred the Knight Grand Commander (PGAT) award.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah approved the conferment in recognition of Admiral Ade’s role in ensuring maritime security in Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as the continuous partnership between both countries.

Admiral Ade received the award from Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein at the Putra World Trade Centre in conjunction with the Defence Services Asia Exhibition and Conference 2016.

The admiral was accompanied by his wife Dr Randah Endah Esti Hartanti Ningsih.

Before being appointed Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy in May 2014, 60-year-old Admiral Ade was the Indonesian Commander of the Eastern Fleet Command and governor of the Indonesian Naval Academy.

Throughout his service with the Indonesian Navy, Admiral Ade has received many accolades for his work, including the Defence Meritorious Service Star (Bintang Yudha Dharma) and Navy Meritorious Service Star (Bintang Jalasena) awards.

Among those who attended yesterday’s ceremony were Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Wira Mohd Johari Baharum, Defence Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Abdul Rahim Mohamad Radzi and Armed Forces chief Jen Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin.

Earlier, Jen Zulkifeli officiated the Chief of Army Roundtable Talk (ChART), a forum for chiefs of army around the world to discuss security matters.

The forum was moderated by Lt-Gen Datuk Dr William Stevenson, the former chief executive of the Malaysian Institute of Defence and Security (Midas).

Twenty-five chiefs of army from Australia, Brunei, Bangladesh, Cambodia, France, India, Indonesia, Nepal, New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan, the Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Britain, the United States and Zimbabwe participated in the talk.