KUALA LUMPUR: Royal Malaysian Air Force chief Jen Tan Sri Affendi Buang is now the 21st Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) chief.
Jen Affendi takes over from Jen Tan Sri Zulkifli Zainal Abidin who has retired.
In his speech at the handover ceremony, Jen Zulkifli said he was thankful to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for giving him the opportunity to lead MAF from June 2018 to January 2020.
“I am confident that MAF will continue to strive forward and enhance its strengths in protecting and defending the Malaysia we all love.
“I hope that everyone involved in MAF will give their full support to my successor, ” he said after handing over duties to Jen Affendi at a function witnessed by Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu.
Jen Affendi is the second air force chief to become MAF chief, and is the first Sarawakian to helm MAF.
He joined the service as a cadet officer in 1980 and was selected to undergo basic flight training at the RMAF Alor Setar Air Base the following year.
A trained fighter pilot, Jen Affendi is one of the founders of the Smokey Bandits aerobatics teams which utilised the MiG-29.
He led the teams while he was on duty as the 17/19 Squadrons Commanding Officer.
Jen Affendi has always been renowned as a skilled fighter pilot.
He was actively involved in several air operations, including close air support and interdiction mission fighting the Communists in the 1980s.
