KUALA LUMPUR: Former chief of defence forces General (R) Tun Dr Mohamed Hashim Mohd Ali, who passed away on Wednesday (Oct 1), will be laid to rest with full military honours.
The Armed Forces headquarters, in a statement on Wednesday, said Ops Rampai would be mobilised as the Armed Forces' highest mark of respect for the nation's ninth chief of defence forces.
"The remains of Tun Mohamed Hashim will be placed at Masjid Khalid Al-Walid, at the Defence Ministry, for funeral prayers and will be laid to rest after Isyak prayers at Raudatul Sakinah Cemetery, Sungai Besi, with full military honours," the statement read.
The ceremonial paying of last respects is expected to be attended by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Chief of Defence Forces General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar, service chiefs as well as former chiefs of defence forces.
"The presence of national leaders, close friends and comrades reflects the highest respect for Allahyarham's service and dedication to the nation's defence and sovereignty," the statement said.
Mohamed Hashim passed away at Gleneagles Hospital here at 11.52am Wednesday.
The Ipoh-born Mohamed Hashim was among the locals who received training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom before returning to serve and being commissioned into the Royal Malay Regiment (RAMD) in 1955.
His career progressed with various key appointments, including Commander of Rajang Security Command (Rascom), Commander of the 2nd Division and Army Chief, before being appointed the ninth chief of defence forces in 1987, a position he held until 1992.
As chief, he is remembered as a leader who charted a new course for the nation's defence.
"During his tenure, the nation was transitioning from the end of the communist insurgency, and he played a key role in shifting the Armed Forces' focus from internal operations to building a modern conventional force," the statement added.
"Among his key contributions were strengthening professionalism, enhancing training effectiveness, and ensuring that the ATM was prepared for high-technology warfare," the statement said.
Under Mohamed Hashim's leadership, the Armed Forces also bolstered regional defence cooperation, particularly through the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) framework and Asean collaboration, thereby raising the Armed Forces' international profile.
After retiring in 1992, Mohamed Hashim remained active in the corporate and education sectors, and his contributions were acknowledged with the conferment of numerous state honours, most notably, the Seri Setia Mahkota (SSM), which carries the title Tun, in 2022. - Bernama
